Indonesia to Reaffirm Support for Gaza at Emergency International Conference
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto has announced Indonesia’s intent to reaffirm its readiness to assist Palestinians at an emergency international conference on Gaza, scheduled for June 11 in Amman, Jordan.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Subianto stated that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had urged him to represent Indonesia at the “Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza” Conference. This event, co-organized by Jordan, Egypt, and the United Nations, aims to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Subianto emphasized Indonesia’s readiness to contribute significantly to the UN peacekeeping mission in Gaza. “President Jokowi has urged me to highlight Indonesia’s readiness to send a significant number of personnel for the UN peacekeeping mission,” he said. Additionally, Indonesia is prepared to deploy mobile medical units in collaboration with regional partners, notably the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Reaffirming Indonesia’s stance on the Gaza conflict, Subianto stated, “Indonesia firmly supports Palestinian independence, a two-state solution, and all efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire.” He underscored the necessity of resolving the conflict through ceasefire and negotiation.
Earlier, on Thursday, June 6, Subianto revealed that President Jokowi had instructed him to deploy a team of medical workers and provide a field hospital to assist those in need in Gaza. Indonesia is exploring collaboration with the UAE, which already operates a hospital in the besieged enclave, to enhance evacuation and healthcare services for locals.
The emergency conference will be held at the King Hussein bin Talal Convention Centre on the shores of the Dead Sea. Attendees will include heads of state and government, as well as leaders of international humanitarian and relief organizations, invited by Jordan’s King Abdullah, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
According to the Jordan Times, the conference aims to “identify ways to bolster the international community’s response, outline effective measures and procedures, as well as operational and logistical needs for this purpose, and seek commitment for a collective coordinated response to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza.”
The fresh armed conflict between Palestine and Israel erupted on October 7, 2023, following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel. Since then, the conflict has resulted in severe casualties and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As of June 4, 2024, the Israeli armed forces have killed at least 36,550 Palestinian civilians and injured approximately 82,959 others, with a significant number of the casualties being women and children, according to Al Jazeera.
Indonesia’s participation in the upcoming conference underscores its commitment to international efforts aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis and supporting peace and stability in the region.
