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Indonesia airdropped aid for Palestinians in Gaza, but experts question its effectiveness
Indonesia has airdropped 18 tonnes of aid into Gaza after being given special permission by Israel.
As people in Gaza continue to die of starvation, Indonesia sent necessities like blankets, staple foods, ready to eat meals, and medicine.
The first Indonesian mission was completed as the country celebrated its independence day last Sunday.
The 17.8 tonnes sent referred to the date of the Indonesia's independence day — August 17.
"This achievement marks a historic milestone and serves as a special gift coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia," said Frega Wenas Inkriwan from the Indonesia's Ministry of Defence.
The Indonesian military said the aid mission was conducted with other countries and led by Royal Jordanian Air Force."We celebrated the Independence Day, not only with ceremonies, but also with concrete humanitarian actions. Hopefully, this aid can ease the burden on our brothers and sisters in Gaza," said Puguh Julianto, the mission commander from the Indonesian Air Force.
"Through airdrops, aid can reach areas that are difficult to reach by land."
Indonesian authorities said a second batch of aid was dropped into the strip on Tuesday, as part of the country's plan to deliver 800 tonnes of aid to the people of Gaza.
As well as the airdrops, Indonesia has sent aid into Rafah, along with Egyptian charities.
Mokhamad Mahdun from the national zakat foundation, known as BAZNAS, said the mission "wasn't easy" due to the security and regulations around the border under Israeli military control.
Three out of five trucks carrying aid were allowed to enter, while the other two were still waiting for clearance, Mr Mahdun said.
At least half a million of people in Gaza are on the brink of famine and the rest are experiencing emergency levels of hunger due to Israeli military action on the strip, according to the World Food Programme.
Despite mounting international pressure to end the war in Gaza and increase aid deliveries, Israel continues to deny it has a policy of starvation in Gaza.
Several other countries including the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Germany, Spain, Italy and Belgium have also airdropped aid to Gaza.
However, Amra Lee — a researcher from Australian National University and former adviser to the UN on humanitarian relief and conflict resolution — criticised aid airdrops as "performative" and "inefficient".
"They seem to be inherently unsafe due to the manner in which they land there, it's also very undignified and inefficient," she told ABC Radio National.
Ms Lee said the air drops looked good but didn't deliver enough.
"Airdrops are very, very visual, I think they can make it look like you're doing something but they just can't carry the supplies that they needed, and they cannot ensure the most vulnerable people get the aid," Ms Lee said.
Ms Lee said the international community needed to continue to "exert pressure" on Israel to facilitate aid at the scale required to "avert mass starvation".
Indonesia has long been a supporter of Palestine, particularly through sending humanitarian aid.
Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, from Centre of Economic and Law Studies in Jakarta, said Indonesia needed to do more to "end Israeli apartheid".
"The reason Indonesia has not taken a stronger stance is likely due to a combination of factors," Dr Rakhmat said.
"Its need to maintain diplomatic relations with other powers, the complexity of regional geopolitics, and concerns about the potential repercussions of antagonising Israel for its allies."
He said Indonesia could push for stronger sanctions on Israel while advocating for a shift towards a more just and lasting peace.
Last week, the Indonesian government was criticised after announcing a plan to use uninhabited land near Singapore to treat 2,000 Palestinians wounded during Israel's military offensive in Gaza.
Critics said the plan was aligned with President Donald Trump's statement earlier this year that the US could take control of Gaza and turn it into "the Riviera of the Middle East".
Under it, Palestinians would not be able to return to Gaza.
