Prabowo Reveals Indonesia Plans To Build A Field Hospital Near Gaza Palestine

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the H225M helicopter simulator at Atang Sendjaja Air Base, Bogor Friday (1/12/2023). (ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi)

JAKARTA - Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto revealed that the Indonesian government plans to build a field hospital (RS) in the border area between Egypt and Gaza, Palestine.

Prabowo explained that the construction point is likely at Sinai, which is directly adjacent to Rafah, Gaza. However, the plan is still being discussed and Prabowo is still reporting it to President Joko Widodo.

"There are suggestions from several parties in the country (Egypt, ed.) around that, if possible, field hospitals. So, we are discussing this later, whether we (Indonesia, ed.) send field hospitals," Prabowo said at Atang Sendjaja Air Base, Bogor, West Java, Friday, December 1, confiscated by Antara.

On the same occasion, Prabowo also shared the results of his latest communication with the Egyptian Defense Minister General Mohamed Ahmed Zaki. The Egyptian Defense Minister conveyed to Prabowo the urgent assistance, including food.

"The Egyptian defense minister instead asked for more food assistance. So, I will report this to the President later," he said.

Prabowo emphasized that the Indonesian government is committed to continuing to add assistance to the Palestinian people in Gaza, some of whom are also displaced in Egypt.

"So, I continue to communicate with the parties involved there, and we will look for real ways to help there," said Defense Minister Prabowo.

Meanwhile, for the plan to send the KRI dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat-992 to Egyptian waters near Gaza, Prabowo said local authorities in Egypt had not been able to issue permits.

"I kept contact with the Egyptian Minister of Defense. He asked to be detained first because there were so many ships waiting to dock," Prabowo said.

Apart from the unlicensed permit, the Indonesian Navy has prepared KRI dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat-992 to undergo humanitarian missions in waters near Gaza.

The ship has been painted white considering its function later as an auxiliary hospital. White paint of the ship along with red cross marks on several parts of the ship in accordance with international rules, namely the Geneva Convention and the San Remo Manual that the hospital ship for humanitarian missions is painted white so that it does not become the target of shooting those who are at war.

Since Thursday (30/11), KRI dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat-992 docked at the Indonesian Navy's Military Cross-Seatorial Command Command Headquarters (Kolinlamil) Pier, Jakarta.

The ship was not only ready to carry out humanitarian missions in waters near Gaza, but carried aid of 80 trucks consisting of pampers (532 sacks), children's clothing (600 sacks), adult clothing (700 sacks and 500 boxes), milk (800 boxes), biscuits (650 boxes), gallon mineral water (1,254 gallons), cardboard mineral water (1,700 boxes), medicines (460 boxes), blankets (450 sacks), jackets (450 sacks), and instant noodles (470 cardboard).

The number if grouped according to the container is 4,080 boxes, 2,732 sacks, 500 boxes, and 1,254 gallons.

KRI Commander dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat-992 Marine Colonel (P) Bayu Dwi Wicaksono ensured that ships were ready to sail across the ocean to safe waters near Gaza to help care for and provide health services to Palestinians who were victims of war.

"This ship has been sailing for almost a year. We carried out an operation mission in Indonesia yesterday in Natuna. We carried out social services there. I think we were able to carry out (operations) in other countries," said KRI Commander dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat answered reporters' questions when he was met on the ship, Jakarta, Thursday.

If later the Egyptian government allows Indonesia to send KRI dr. Radjiman as a hospital ship helped to safe waters near Gaza, the voyage became the first mission of KRI dr. Radjiman crossed the ocean and left Indonesian waters.