Indonesia says readying peacekeeping brigade for Gaza

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Indonesian defense forces commander on Thursday said Jakarta would be preparing a peacekeeping brigade of 1,212 personnel for deployment in Gaza, state news agency ANTARA reported.

The troops will be deployed if Indonesia receives a mandate from the UN, said Gen. Agus Subiyanto.

The statement came after President-elect Prabowo Subianto's recent remarks that the Southeast Asian nation was prepared to provide humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping forces to maintain a cease-fire in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

"We will form a brigade consisting of a Support Battalion, an Engineer Battalion, a Health Battalion, and a Supply Battalion," he said, adding that defense forces were also readying two hospital ships for the peace mission to treat people affected by the conflict.

"These two ships can provide treatment on board along with an emergency unit for surgery, an emergency room, and the provision of X-ray facility as well," he added.

Israel has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack that claimed 1,200 lives. The onslaught has triggered a humanitarian disaster and an ongoing trial over alleged genocide at the International Court of Justice.​​​​​​​