Head of the Defense Ministry's Information Bureau, Brigadier General Frega Wenas Inkiriwang, emphasized that the two institutions have the infrastructure and facilities needed to rescue Palestinians from Gaza and treat them in Indonesia.
"Of course, the Defense Ministry and TNI are ready because we have the requisite infrastructure and facilities, including hospitals," he told the media at the ministry's headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday.
Inkiriwang expressed confidence that both institutions have the capability to execute the President's plan as they have experience in non-combat military operations, such as search and rescue missions for disaster-affected residents in Indonesia.
"At home, we have experience in evacuating, rescuing, and treating victims," he pointed out.
However, the official stressed that neither the Defense Ministry nor the TNI has received an official instruction from the head of state regarding the proposed Gaza evacuation mission.
"We will work under the central government's command and order," he stated.
Earlier, on Wednesday, President Prabowo emphasized that Indonesia is willing and ready to receive evacuees from Gaza.
"Indonesia is ready to deploy aircraft to evacuate approximately one thousand residents in the initial phase," he informed before leaving for the United Arab Emirates from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta.
He said that the evacuees would not become permanent residents in Indonesia, but return to their homeland once they recover and Gaza is declared safe.
The statement was corroborated by Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono, who clarified that the mission is intended to provide Palestinians with medical treatment and temporary shelter.
He made the clarification in a statement released on Thursday to reiterate Indonesia's opposition to any attempts to displace the people of Gaza from their homeland.
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Translator: Narda M, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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