Indonesia ready to send peacekeepers, medical staff to Gaza: Prabowo

Country willing to support prospective ceasefire and protect all parties, he says

- Tan Tam Mei

Indonesia is prepared to send peacekeeping troops and medical forces to support a prospective ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas have been warring, said Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto on June 1.

"We are prepared to contribute significant peacekeeping forces to maintain and monitor this prospective ceasefire as well as provide protection and security to all parties and to all sides," said Mr.

Prabowo, who in October will become Indonesia's eighth president.

Mr Prabowo, along with his vicepresident running mate, Mr Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is the son of incumbent president Joko Widodo, won the Feb 14 election with almost 60 per cent of the votes.

Speaking on the second day of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue, the annual regional security forum held in Singapore, Mr Prabowo said Indonesia is also discussing with the relevant parties to speed up the deployment of medical personnel to hospitals in Gaza.

"Indonesia also is very willing to evacuate and treat wounded Palestinians," he said, adding that Jakarta is ready to receive and treat up to 1,000 patients in the immediate future.