LIVE UPDATES
The Indonesian government has concluded plans to offer temporary shelter to Palestinian medical evacuees and children orphaned by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The country’s president, Prabowo Subianto, stated that the South Asian country is ready to evacuate a first batch of around 1,000 victims, who will stay in the country until they have fully recovered from their injuries and Gaza is safe enough to return to.
Subianto, however, clarified that the move was not intended for permanent resettlement but rather a temporary solution to address the immediate needs of those affected by the conflict.
This distinction is crucial in understanding the nuances of the proposal, particularly in the context of United States President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, which involves relocating Palestinian residents to neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan.
“We are ready to evacuate those who are injured or traumatized, and orphans, if they want to be evacuated to Indonesia, and we are ready to send planes to transport them,” Subianto said, adding that he has instructed his foreign affairs minister to discuss evacuation plans with the Palestinian authorities at once.
Subianto disclosed this on Wednesday before getting on a flight to Abu Dhabi, the first stop in a weeklong tour of the Middle East that also includes stops in Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan.
He said he would consult on the planned evacuations with those countries, some of which have also accepted Palestinians for humanitarian reasons.
The world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation’s leader added that other countries have called on Indonesia to increase its role in seeking a resolution to the conflict in Gaza.
“This is something complicated; it’s not easy, but I think it encourages the Indonesian government to play a more active role,” Subianto said.
The war between Israel and Palestine began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a land, sea, and air assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
According to health ministry, more than 50,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza while Israel claims said 1,200 were killed in the attack and around 250 were taken hostage.
