Humanitarian missions at sea: lessons from the deployment of Indonesia's military hospital ship for humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza conflict

In 2024, Indonesia deployed KRI dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat-992, a military hospital ship, to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians affected by the Gaza conflict. Initially, the plan was to use the ship as a hospital vessel with specially protected status under international humanitarian law. However, legal, political, and operational challenges, including Israel's naval blockade and the absence of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Israel, impeded this goal. As a result, dr. Radjiman retained its "normal"warship status with sovereign immunity but lacked the protection normally granted to hospital ships under the Geneva Conventions. This article analyzes the barriers to deploying military hospital ships in conflict zones, focusing on the interplay between international humanitarian law, maritime neutrality, and diplomatic obstacles. It also compares Indonesia's mission to similar operations by France, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), highlighting that while France and Italy deployed military vessels, the UAE used a civilian floating hospital in Egyptian waters to treat Gazan civilians. The study finds that the choice of vessel significantly impacts mission success, as civilian-operated ships tend to encounter fewer diplomatic hurdles than military vessels, especially in contexts lacking formal bilateral ties. The mission of dr. Radjiman offers key lessons for State-led humanitarian efforts, emphasizing the need for legal clarity, strategic diplomacy, and flexible operational planning. While the mission did not meet its original objectives, it provides insights into navigating complex maritime conflicts and refining the strategies for future hospital ship deployments in contested waters.