Jakarta (ANTARA) - Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Agus Subiyanto stated that his side would prepare a brigade comprising four battalions as peacekeeping forces for Gaza, Palestine.
The troops will be deployed if Indonesia receives a mandate from the United Nations (UN), he remarked.
According to Subiyanto, the four battalions comprised the Support Battalion, Health Battalion, Engineer Battalion, and Supply Battalion, with the total number of personnel 1,212.
"We will form a brigade consisting of a Support Battalion, an Engineer Battalion, a Health Battalion, and a Supply Battalion," Subiyanto remarked after attending a working meeting with Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) on Thursday.
He explained that the Health Battalion would be equipped with medical care capabilities, including doctors on the team. Meanwhile, the Engineer Battalion is prepared to have building construction capabilities, and the Supply Battalion is tasked with opening public kitchens.
Lastly, the Support Battalion will provide security for personnel serving in Gaza. Subiyanto remarked that security forces are still needed due to the conflict occurring in the area.
"We will protect our troops in Gaza," he emphasized.
In addition, his side is preparing two hospital ships for the peace mission, namely KRI Rajiman and KRI Suharso, 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," the commander revealed.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Defense Muhammad Herindra stated that the deployment of troops still awaits a mandate from the UN. Moreover, his side had also discussed evacuation plans for civilian victims.
"Later, we will send a field hospital, and we can evacuate civilian victims in Gaza and bring them to Indonesia," Herindra noted.
Earlier, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto revealed that President Joko Widodo had instructed him to evacuate, admit, and treat one thousand patients from Palestine with medical care in the near future.
Related news: TNI ready to deploy troops for Gaza peace mission: spokesperson
Related news: Indonesian Super Hercules lands home after Gaza humanitarian mission
Translator: Bagus Ahmad R, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
