Indonesian Air Force Distributes 3.2 Tons of Aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip

"Dropping" of goods at low altitude is routinely carried out by the Indonesian Air Force, for example during the US Air Force's Cope West exercise.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

The aircraft crew lined up near the C-130J-30 Super Hercules plane handed over by the Ministry of Defense to the Indonesian Air Force at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, on Tuesday (15/8/2023).

AMMAN, TUESDAY – The TNI Air Force's C-130 J Hercules aircraft succeeded in dropping 3.2 tons of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday afternoon (9/ 4/2024). The Secretariat General Bureau of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia in a press statement explained that the aircraft with tail number A1340 departed from the Jordanian Air Force Air Base in Zarqa at 11.36 local time (15.36 WIB) and arrived over the drop zone in the Gaza Strip at 11.36 WIB. 12.50 local time.

Also read: Indonesian aid for Gaza transported by 2 Hercules planes and 1 cargo plane

The aircraft led by mission commander Colonel (Pnb) Noto Casnoto dropped aid from a low altitude, around 150 feet using the LCLA (low cost low altitude) method at a speed of 130 knots. The Indonesian Air Force Hercules aircraft dropped 20 aid packages, each weighing 160 kilograms.

The aid is very helpful in alleviating the burden of Palestinians in Gaza Strip because food aid supplies have been obstructed by Israel's blockade. It was reported that many Palestinians in the area were forced to eat grass and animal feed to survive. So far, more than 33,000 Palestinians have been recorded as victims of Israel's retaliatory attacks.

AP/MAHMOUD ESSA

Palestinian children queue to receive free food aid at the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, Monday (18/3/2024).

After dropping off aid packages marked with the flags of Indonesia and Palestine, the aircraft then landed back at King Abdullah II Airport at 13:47 local time (17:47 WIB). The mission went smoothly and all crew members were safe. "Thank God and thank you for the cooperation of all parties between the TNI and the Jordanian Army," said Colonel (Pnb) Noto Casnoto.

The delivery of aid from the air was the result of cooperation and coordination between Indonesia and Jordan. Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and King Abdullah II of Jordan have been long-time friends and continue to maintain a good relationship to this day.

Also read: Indonesian Aid Arrives in El Arish, Handed Over to Egyptian Red Crescent

President Joko Widodo on March 8, 2024, affirmed that Indonesia will soon send humanitarian aid to Palestinian residents in the Gaza Strip. "Furthermore, on March 12, 2024, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto contacted King Abdullah II regarding President Joko Widodo's plan that Indonesia will send direct aid to Gaza," said the Head of the Kemhan Public Relations Bureau, Brigadier General TNI Edwin Adrian Sumantha.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

President Joko Widodo accompanied by (left to right) Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Sudan's Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia Sid Ahmed M. Alamain Hamid Alamain, and Egypt's Ambassador to Indonesia Yasser Hassan Farag Elshemy delivered a speech during the release of humanitarian aid for Palestine and Sudan at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase, Jakarta, Wednesday (3/4/2024).

Then on March 21st, 2024, Defense Minister Prabowo received a visit from Jordan's Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia, Sudqi Al Omoush, in Jakarta. The Jordanian side extended an invitation from King Abdullah II to Indonesia to participate in the launch of humanitarian aid operations for Gaza from the air.

"Indonesia acknowledges the existence of eternal friendship with Jordan because both countries are committed to cultivating world peace, especially in the Middle East, and increasing bilateral cooperation for shared prosperity and welfare," said Defense Minister Prabowo when receiving the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Jordan.

The meeting was immediately followed by a joint mission between the Royal Jordanian Air Force and the Indonesian Air Force to Gaza. Humanitarian aid for Gaza was sent from Indonesia on March 29, 2024, which was released by the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General TNI Agus Subiyanto, and the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force, Marshal TNI Fadjar Prasetyo, at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase apron.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

The handover of a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft miniature between Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto (fourth from right) and Chief of Air Staff (KSAU) Marshal TNI Fadjar Prasetyo (third from left) took place at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta on Thursday (6/7/2023).

The deployed aircraft is the new Hercules C-130 J-30 Super Hercules series that has just been received by the Indonesian Air Force from five transport aircraft orders. The fourth aircraft was received on January 24, 2024.

Also read: Indonesia Calls for Aid to Enter the Gaza Strip

TNI's Kapuspen, Major General Nugraha Gumilar, explained on March 28, 2024 that the military prepared 900 air umbrellas to drop the aid.

In November 2023, the Republic of Indonesia also sent aid for residents of the Gaza Strip which was transported to El Arish in Egypt and then taken by land to the Gaza Strip border in Rafah City.

KOMPAS/B JOSIE SUSILO HARDIANTO

The assistance collected by the Indonesian Government for the people of Palestine in Gaza has arrived at El Arish Air Base in Egypt on Monday (11/06/2023).

KOMPAS/CYPRIANUS ANTO SAPTOWALYONO

The officers are arranging the humanitarian aid packages for Palestine that will be released by President Joko Widodo at the Indonesian Airforce National Base in Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta, on Saturday (4/11/2023).

The Indonesian Air Force routinely conducts low-altitude air drop exercises, such as during the Cope West exercise with the United States Pacific Air Forces (US PACAF) in June 2022. During the exercise, air drops were conducted both during the day and at night using the LCLA method.

Commander of Wing 2 Abdurahman Saleh Air Base, Colonel Pnb Erwin Sugiandi, stated during the Cope West exercise, that LCLA flights were carried out to avoid enemy threats from radar tracking or anti-aircraft weapons.

In the cargo drop exercise, the Indonesian Air Force Hercules and the United States Air Force Hercules carried out a formation flight.