Indonesia Provides Palestinians Affected by the Gaza Conflict With Temporary Shelter

As part of larger humanitarian and diplomatic initiatives, Indonesia will provide temporary housing to injured and displaced Palestinians from Gaza.

As he embarked on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East and Turkey on Wednesday, President Prabowo Subianto declared that Indonesia is ready to temporarily house Palestinians injured and displaced by the conflict in Gaza.

Ahead of his trips to Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, Prabowo stated that up to 1,000 evacuees might be part of the initial wave. “We are prepared to evacuate the injured, the traumatized, and the orphans,” he said, adding that the people would only stay in Indonesia until they were well enough to return to Gaza or until it was safe to do so.

In order to manage the evacuation procedure, President Prabowo disclosed that he has instructed Indonesia’s foreign minister to get in touch with Palestinian officials and other pertinent parties right away. “Our government has taken more proactive measures as a result of Indonesia’s dedication to promoting the safety and independence of Palestinians,” he stated.

The most populous Muslim-majority nation in the world, Indonesia, has regularly supported a two-state solution and sent aid to Gaza. The plan is another step in Jakarta’s efforts to take the lead in ending the protracted conflict.

According to Israeli authorities, Hamas forces killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and captured about 250 captives in October 2023, sparking the start of the war in Gaza. Israel responded by launching a military campaign that has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian authorities.

Prabowo’s announcement follows two months after former US President Donald Trump suggested permanently relocating Gaza’s population, and Indonesia’s foreign ministry reaffirmed its opposition to any attempts to forcefully remove Palestinians.

Prabowo had previously stated that Indonesia was prepared to send peacekeeping troops to Gaza if necessary before assuming president. His most recent action since taking office shows that he intends to expand Indonesia’s humanitarian and diplomatic presence in the area.