Escalation Of Conflict In Gaza, RI Offers Palestine Evacuation Of Citizens Treated At TNI Hospital

Illustration of Gaza's condition (UNICEF-Eyad El Baba-PHOTO via news.un.org

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government (RI) offers Palestinians victims of Israeli aggression in Gaza to be taken out and treated in hospitals managed by the TNI in Indonesia.

Defense Minister (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto submitted the offer to the Palestinian Government and other countries whose territory borders Gaza.

"I have conveyed (to the authorities in Palestine, ed.) that we have opened all TNI hospitals for victims from there, and we are talking about technically how to evacuate the victims here," said the Minister of Defense after receiving 22 Palestinian students who received scholarships from the Indonesian government at the Ministry of Defense Office (Kemenhan), Jakarta, Wednesday, November 8, confiscated by Antara.

He said the response to the offer of humanitarian assistance had so far been positive. The countries that were spoken to by Indonesia regarding the evacuation plan welcomed it.

"So far I have spoken with the Egyptian Ambassador, the Palestinian Ambassador, I have also coordinated with the United States Ambassador, and currently all are positive, because I see Indonesia's desire to help to overcome humanitarian difficulties there," Prabowo said.

Not only offers for evacuation and treatment of victims at TNI hospitals, Defense Minister Prabowo also offered to send a hospital ship and build field hospitals on the borders around Gaza.

"Once (Indonesia) gets the green light, the hospital ship (we) sends it," Prabowo said.

Gaza, a Palestinian territory bordering Egypt, since last October has been the target of Israeli airstrikes. The casualties in Gaza as a result of the attack currently exceed 10,000 people.

However, the Israeli military (IDF) has not stopped attacks, although the United Nations and the majority of world countries, including Indonesia, demand that attacks be stopped for the sake of humanity.

Meanwhile, it is not easy for Palestinians in Gaza to come in and out, as border gates are controlled by Israel, including in Rafah, an area in Gaza bordering Sinai, Egypt.

Not only does Israel strictly control the entry and exit flow of people, Israel also controls the distribution of goods, including aid items sent from outside Palestine to Gaza.

On Saturday, November 4, the Indonesian government sent a total of more than 50 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The aid arrived at El Arish Air Base, Egypt, on Monday 6 November.

The aid was handed over to Egypt's Red Crescent to be brought to Gaza through the UN Agency for Refugees in Palestine (UNRWA).