This was his first official statement stating the Indonesian Defense Forces' (TNI's) readiness to send peacekeeping troops to Gaza and proof of Indonesia’s commitment to end the conflict and support Palestinian independence.
Indonesia has a strong reason for supporting Palestinian independence since the two countries have a long history of good relations.
The relations between the two countries began when Palestine became one of the first nations to recognize Indonesia's independence. Since then, bilateral relations between the two countries have always been maintained.
The deployment of peacekeeping troops is one of the efforts to reduce conflict, while the foreign policy approach remains the government's priority.
Prabowo's statement was welcomed by TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto by preparing troops and their main weapons systems (alutsista).
However, these troops can only be deployed if the TNI has received a mandate from the United Nations (UN).
Preparation
Following Prabowo’s statement, the TNI headquarters has prepared 1,394 personnel for the peace mission in Gaza.
These personnel are members of a composite brigadier comprising the Support Battalion, Health Battalion, Engineer Battalion, and Supply Battalion.
The main focus of these four battalions is to assist Palestinians who have become victims of war, with each battalion having a special role.
The Engineer Battalion will focus on building infrastructure and public facilities to support needs in Gaza, while the Supplies Battalion will be responsible for meeting the victims' logistical needs, such as by building public kitchens.
Meanwhile, the Health Battalion will be tasked with treating residents who are injured or exposed to diseases, while the Support Battalion will provide security for personnel serving in Gaza.
Moreover, the TNI provides several military vehicles to meet the medical needs of war victims in Gaza.
The Indonesian Navy prepared two warships (KRIs) that were transformed into floating hospitals. The two KRIs are KRI Dr. Rajiman Wedyoningrat-992 and KRI Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo-991.
The KRI Dr Rajiman Wedyoningrat-992 can accommodate 163 crew members (ABK), 18 crew personnel, and 160 patients with the facilities of one ballroom, one VVIP room, and five VIP rooms.
Meanwhile, KRI Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo-991 is equipped with six emergency room beds, 40 medical tents, 45 beds for male patients, 45 beds for female patients, two beds for a male isolation room, and two beds for a female isolation room.
Furthermore, the deck of KRI Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo-991 also has six emergency beds, four beds for surgery, three post-surgery beds, four ICU beds, and three HCU beds.
The TNI is also preparing various defense equipment to transport injured victims, including the Indonesian Navy's Panther helicopter and the Indonesian Air Force's Dauphin helicopter.
Considering that Prabowo also promised to bring injured Palestinians to be treated in Indonesia, the TNI has also prepared facilities for this plan.
The Indonesian Air Force has prepared three aircraft to transport injured Palestinians for medical treatment in Indonesia.
The three aircraft comprise the Boeing-737 400/500 and the Hercules C-130 type J and Type H.
The Boeing aircraft can accommodate 41 crew, 86 passengers, and logistics weighing up to 10 thousand kilograms. Meanwhile, the Hercules type J aircraft can accommodate 51 passengers and crew and the H type can bring 55 people.
The plane will take injured Palestinians to receive medical treatment at TNI hospitals, namely the Gatot Soebroto Army Central Hospital (RSPAD) and the Panglima Besar Soedirman Hospital.
The two hospitals can accommodate up to one thousand patients. The TNI Headquarters ensures that all victims will receive quality medical treatment.
To support the work of floating hospitals serving Palestinians, the Indonesian Army will also deploy a field hospital in the Gaza area.
The field hospital consists of various medical tents that can accommodate up to 120 patients. The facilities provided include an emergency room, ICU, laboratory, and a dedicated pharmacy room.
The Indonesian Army is also preparing several vehicles to meet the needs of the Palestinian people such as land vehicles, including ambulances, logistics vehicles, and forklift vehicles.
Assistance
Before Prabowo expressed Indonesia’s readiness to deploy TNI troops for a peace mission in Gaza, the TNI had earlier sent logistics aid to the people in Palestine.
The first aid was sent on November 4-8, 2023, in the form of food, medicine, baby equipment, and women's necessities weighing 26 tons.
This assistance was delivered aboard an Indonesian Air Force aircraft via Egypt's El Arish Airport.
The delivery, which was considered successful, was continued by sending another batch of aid in the form of logistics using the KRI Radjiman Wedyoningrat that sailed from January 18 to March 15, 2024.
Some 242 tons of critical assistance were sent by TNI troops to Palestine, such as food, supplies for babies and women, as well as medicines.
The delivery of the third batch of assistance was made by TNI by using the Hercules C-130 type Z aircraft to send logistics from March 29 to April 27, 2024. The plane, manned by TNI soldiers, departed from Jordan's King Abdullah II Airport to Gaza to deliver logistics using the airdrop method.
In that dropping, a total of 20 logistics packages, each weighing up to 160 kilograms, were delivered to Gaza's residents.
A high level of enthusiasm to send assistance to Palestinians in Gaza is also seen in the civilians.
The public is keen to contribute by directly helping Palestinians who are currently the victims of the conflict.
Witnessing this phenomenon, the TNI highlighted an opportunity for the community to join the UN troops in the Gaza peacekeeping mission.
The participation of members of civil society can be useful as expert staff, such as fulfilling the need for doctors and psychiatrists to carry out trauma recovery and educational staff as well.
Collaboration is very possible. However, the technical and bureaucratic requirements for sending civilians on peace missions are regulated separately by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Military leaders from other countries, such as Singapore and Australia, are also eager to join the peace mission carried out by the TNI.
General Subiyanto spoke of having met with the Australian and Singaporean commanders. They both conveyed their interest to participate in the form of a joint operation.
However, the TNI Headquarters has yet to prepare the joint operation scheme with other countries.
The Indonesian government is optimistic that countries in Asia would unite to stop the one-sided war conflict that seems to have led to genocide in Palestine.
The decision now lies with the UN. Once the UN allows the TNI to deploy its troops, the TNI commander will immediately deploy the troops to Gaza and protect all Palestinians.
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Translator: Walda Marison, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
