Indonesia to take deputy commander role in Gaza force, says US general
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Palestinians living in tents amid the destroyed buildings of Gaza City's Zeitoun neighbourhood on Feb 12.
PHOTO: SAHER ALGHORRA/NYTIMES
- Indonesia accepts deputy commander role in the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza, potentially sending up to 8,000 troops.
- Morocco is the first Arab nation to commit troops to the ISF; Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania also pledged soldiers.
- The ISF aims for 20,000 troops and 12,000 trained police, deploying initially in southern Gaza's Rafa, then expanding.
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WASHINGTON - Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, will take a deputy commander role in a nascent International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza and Morocco will contribute troops, the unit’s American chief said on Feb 19.
The two nations will be among five that have committed troops for an international security force for Gaza.
“I have offered and Indonesia has accepted the position of deputy commander for the ISF,” Major-General Jasper Jeffers announced at the inaugural meeting
Indonesia has said it is ready to send up to 8,000 troops to Gaza if the force is confirmed.
The force aims to have 20,000 soldiers, as well as a new police force.
Maj-Gen Jeffers confirmed that Morocco had also agreed to send troops, in the first commitment by an Arab country.
“The first five countries have committed troops to serve in the ISF - Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania. Two countries have committed to train police - Egypt and Jordan,” Maj-Gen Jeffers said.
He said the ISF would begin by deploying in southern Gaza’s Rafa, train police there, and “expand sector by sector.”
The long-term plan is to use 20,000 ISF troops and train 12,000 police, Maj-Gen Jeffers said. AFP, REUTERS
