Indonesia working on details of plan to treat 2,000 people from Gaza
Indonesian government holding inter-ministerial discussions to discuss logistics, legality and foreign policy implications
JAKARTA, Indonesia (MNTV) – Various ministries in Indonesia have met to discuss how the country’s plan to provide temporary medical assistance to 2,000 Palestinians from Gaza would be implemented, said Dave Laksono, deputy chair of the parliament’s commission I, which oversees defence and foreign affairs, according to The Guardian.
Indonesia announced earlier this month that the uninhabited island of Galang was one possible site. Located just south of Singapore, the island was once home to a former camp for Vietnamese refugees and most recently the site of a pandemic hospital.
In Muslim-majority Indonesia, a nation that has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel, and has long been a staunch supporter of Palestinian statehood, government officials have been reluctant to provide any details, saying it is just one option being considered.
“These discussions have focused on logistical feasibility, medical readiness, and legal frameworks,” Laksono told The Guardian. “Commission I has also been briefed on the strategic implications, particularly regarding Indonesia’s foreign policy posture and regional stability.”
Plans at this stage remain “exploratory”, he said, with Galang island identified as one site due its historical use for humanitarian purposes and existing infrastructure.
Other sites, including facilities in West Java and Central Java that have proximity to major hospitals and logistical hubs, are also being considered, he said.
The Indonesian government appears to be considering several possibilities, with the use of large military hospitals in Jakarta, and also a site in Jordan, a country with which Indonesia’s president Prabowo Subinatio has particularly strong relations.
Officials acknowledge the plan will be politically delicate, with some national Islamic leaders accusing the government of being “deceived” by Israel, and questioning what guarantees would be in place to ensure their return.
“One of the issues is how to make sure the right to return of the Palestinians can be respected because we know that many are worried that this kind of policy can be interpreted in other ways,” said Abdul Kadir Jailani, the director general for Asian, Pacific and African affairs at Indonesia’s ministry of foreign affairs, stressing that no final decision had been made on Galang.
“So we have to make sure it will be consistent with the principle of international humanitarian law, and in particular how to respect the right to return of the Palestinians.
“One of the most important things is that we are not going to do that without approval and support from relevant stakeholders, in particular Palestinian authorities and countries in the region,” he added. “The implementation of this plan has a high level of complexity, particularly in terms of its political and technical aspects.”
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
