The Indonesian government, led by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, has announced its readiness to send a hospital assistance ship to the waters near Gaza, Palestine, with the primary purpose of providing essential medical treatments to the palestinian refugees. The decision to deploy this hospital assistance ship underscores Indonesia’s unwavering support for those affected by the ongoing crisis in the region. Minister Subianto revealed the government’s intentions during a recent statement, emphasizing the need for cooperation with neighboring nations, particularly Egypt, to secure the necessary approvals for the deployment of the hospital assistance ship. The Indonesian government will coordinate with Egyptian authorities. The Indonesian Armed Forces is ready to send a hospital assistance ship that will be on standby there to provide more assistance, reflecting the nation’s commitment to extending a helping hand to those in dire need. The announcement of this significant humanitarian mission follows a meeting between Minister Subianto and Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zuhair Al Shun, during which the Defense Minister expressed Indonesia’s unyielding readiness to assist the victims of war and conflict in Palestine. This proactive approach to support war-torn Gaza sends a powerful message of solidarity and compassion to those who are suffering from the devastating consequences of the conflict.

President Joko Widodo also reinforced Indonesia’s commitment to aid Palestine when he accompanied Minister Subianto in the send-off of the first batch of Indonesian humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. This initial batch of aid includes crucial supplies such as food, medical equipment, blankets, tents, and other logistics, all of which are desperately needed by the people of Gaza. President Widodo stated, “The humanitarian tragedy in Gaza is unacceptable and must be put to an end as soon as possible,” underscoring the urgency and gravity of the situation. The humanitarian aid, which weighs a substantial 51.5 tons, was dispatched via three aircraft, two of which are C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Indonesian Air Force, while the third is a Boeing 737 plane chartered by the National Police (Polri). The mission involves the deployment of 42 flight crew members and two officials from the Defense Ministry, who are entrusted with the crucial responsibility of delivering this vital assistance. The three aircraft departed from Jakarta and will travel through multiple countries before reaching their destination in El Ashir, Egypt. In Egypt, the aid will be handed over to the country’s Red Crescent, a trusted humanitarian organization. From there, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will facilitate the safe and efficient delivery of this much-needed aid to Gaza.

The Indonesian Navy Hospital Assistance Fleet consists of three ships: KRI Dr. Soeharso-990, KRI Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo-991 and KRI Dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat-992. These ships are equipped with medical facilities and are staffed by highly qualified medical personnel. The Indonesian Navy Assistance Hospital Fleet plays an important role in providing medical care to the Indonesian people, especially those living in remote areas. They are capable of providing a wide range of medical services, including: Emergency medicine, General surgery, Orthopedic surgery, Neurosurgery, Cardiology, Oncology, Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology and Dentistry. The ships have the ability to perform complex medical procedures, such as open-heart surgery and organ transplants. They are also equipped with helicopters, which allows them to evacuate patients from remote areas to specialized medical facilities. In addition to their medical capabilities, theships also have a number of other features that make them well-suited for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. They are equipped with water desalination plants, reverse osmosis systems, and sewage treatment plants, which allow them to operate independently of shore support. They also have large cargo holds, which allows them to carry large quantities of food, water, and medical supplies.

KRI dr. Soeharso is a hospital assistance ship of the Indonesian Navy. As built, Tanjung Dalpele was constructed as a landing platform dock (LPD). The vessel had a standard displacement of 7,400 tonnes (7,300 long tons) and 11,600 t (11,400 long tons) at full load. The vessel is equipped with a well deck and is capable of accommodating 13 Assault Amphibious Vehicles, two LCU-23M landing craft and two landing craft for vehicles and personnel (LCVPs). The vessel is equipped with hospital facilities (five operating rooms and six polyclinics) and is utilised as a hospital assistance ship by the Indonesian Navy. As a hospital assistance ship the vessel is capable of accepting up to 2,000 patients and has a crew of 126 with 51 medical specialists. 

The ship was armed with one 57 mm (2.2 in) gun and twin-mounted 40 mm (1.6 in) guns. The ship has a hangar and helicopter deck at the stern and is capable of operating two Super Puma helicopters. The dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo class is a class of hospital assistance ships built by PAL Indonesia in Surabaya for the Indonesian Navy. The first ship in the class, KRI Dr Wahidin Sudirohusodo (991), was commissioned in 2022. The second ship, KRI Dr Radjiman Wedyodiningrat (992), was commissioned in 2023. Ships of the class have a length of 124 m (406 ft 10 in) and a beam of 21.8 m (71 ft 6 in). They have a displacement of 7,290 tonnes (7,170 long tons). The ships have a capacity of 643 people, including 159 patients. They have a maximum speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph), a cruising speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph), and an economical speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).The Sudirohusodo-class hospital assistance ships are intended for use in providing medical assistance and support in remote or disaster-stricken areas. They can also be used for training navy medical personnel.