JAKARTA: The Indonesian government on Thursday dispatched its naval hospital ship to Gaza as part of its humanitarian assistance amid Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave.
Indonesia, which has long been a strong supporter of Palestine, dispatched two planes carrying humanitarian assistance to Gaza in November, with medicine, food, hygiene kit, blankets, mattresses and medical equipment for hospitals.
The third consignment weighing 220 tonnes is transported by the Indonesian Navy’s hospital ship, the KRI Radjiman Wedyodiningrat-992, which left the Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta for the El-Arish Port in Egypt on Thursday.
Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto addressing the ship’s personnel ahead of their departure said: All of you today will depart for a humanitarian mission to deliver aid for our brothers and sisters in Palestine, in Gaza, who are going through a great tragedy, immense suffering, under relentless attacks that go beyond the limits of humanity and in neglect of international law.
He said Indonesia is not a country involved in the war, but we have solidarity and humanitarian responsibility toward our brothers in Palestine.
The Indonesian Navy in a statement said that the third batch of assistance also included essentials for babies and other staples.
“This mission will take the route of Jakarta-Belawan-El-Arish-Jeddah-Batam before it comes back to Jakarta. The journey will take a total time of about 50 days on the sea to return to our homeland,” the Indonesian Navy said.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza on Thursday reported that the death toll from ongoing relentless Israeli military bombardment has surpassed 24,620, mostly women and children, since October 7.
A ministry statement said 61,830 people have also been injured in the Palestinian territory during the war.
