Indonesia readies Gaza airdrops, peacekeepers, and evacuations

Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Prabowo Subianto stated that Indonesia is ready to carry out humanitarian air drops to the Gaza Strip and deploy peacekeeping troops to help maintain security in the Palestinian region.

“The president said that Indonesia is ready to send its peacekeepers to Gaza for peacekeeping missions, similar to what we did in Lebanon,” Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Chief Hasan Nasbi stated here on Thursday.

He added that Indonesia’s non-aligned stance has been an advantage in its efforts to contribute to resolving the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and several parties involved in mediation have requested Indonesia’s assistance.

“Parties working to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza requested Indonesia’s involvement in peacekeeping missions after a ceasefire has been reached,” Nasbi said.

President Prabowo also instructed the Indonesian government to distribute humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Nasbi stated that the president had directed the Defence Ministry to prepare two Lockheed C-130 Hercules military planes for the operation.

“We will drop food aid for the Gazans from the air. Besides sending peacekeeping forces to Gaza, Indonesia will also be involved in the airdrop,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PCO head said that President Prabowo has issued an instruction to evacuate and treat Palestinians in Gaza wounded by Israel’s indiscriminate attacks, to Galang Island in Riau Islands Province.

“The president issued a directive dictating that Indonesia provide medical treatment to around two thousand Gaza residents wounded by bombs or collapsed structures amid the ongoing war,” Nasbi said.

Israel’s aggression against the Gaza Strip since October 2023 has killed over 60,000 people and wounded hundreds of thousands of others. The continuous air and ground assault has devastated the enclave, while a blockade and limited aid distribution have led to severe food shortages and starvation deaths.

The Gaza health authority said that at least 188 people, including 94 children, have died from malnutrition since the war began nearly two years ago.

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