Indonesia‘s President-elect Prabowo Subianto announced that the country is prepared to send peacekeeping forces to Gaza to help enforce a ceasefire if necessary.
This declaration was made during his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security conference held in Singapore.
Prabowo expressed his support for US President Joe Biden’s three-phase proposal regarding the Gaza ceasefire, calling it a step in the right direction.
He emphasized Indonesia‘s readiness to contribute significantly to peacekeeping efforts, stating, “When the need arises and if requested by the United Nations, we are prepared to deploy substantial peacekeeping forces to maintain and monitor the anticipated ceasefire, and to provide protection and security for all parties involved.”
The 72-year-old former special forces general, who is also Indonesia’s current Minister of Defense, will begin his presidency in October.
Outgoing President Joko Widodo has directed Prabowo to also declare Indonesia’s readiness to evacuate, receive, and provide medical care for up to 1,000 patients from Gaza.
The Indonesian hospital in Gaza, which was operated by an Indonesian NGO, was forced to close in November due to the ongoing conflict.
Prabowo highlighted the necessity of a comprehensive investigation into the humanitarian crisis in Rafah, Gaza, and called for a fair resolution to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
He stressed that a just solution involves recognizing both Israel’s right to exist and the Palestinian people’s rights to their homeland and state, where they can live in peace.
In a separate statement, President Joko Widodo condemned the Israeli attack on Rafah and urged Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice’s orders.
“Israel must adhere to international court rulings, including the cessation of aggressive attacks on Palestine,” Widodo told reporters on Saturday.
This announcement underscores Indonesia’s commitment to playing an active role in international peacekeeping and supporting humanitarian efforts in conflict zones, aligning with the country’s longstanding stance on global peace and justice.
