Jakarta: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has announced his country’s readiness to temporarily shelter Palestinians affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Speaking ahead of a diplomatic tour across the Middle East, Prabowo said the humanitarian move reflects Indonesia’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause.
At a press briefing, the president said he has directed Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (referred to in the transcript as Sugiono) to begin discussions with Palestinian authorities about evacuation logistics. “We are prepared to airlift injured civilians, traumatized individuals, and orphaned children to Indonesia, should they seek refuge,” Prabowo stated. He added that Indonesia could receive up to 1,000 people in the initial phase.
“These evacuees will stay in Indonesia until they are fully recovered and until it is safe for them to return to Gaza,” he affirmed. Prabowo underscored that Indonesia’s move is grounded in a commitment to Palestinian safety and the broader goal of an independent Palestinian state.
Middle East Tour to Strengthen Humanitarian and Diplomatic Ties
President Prabowo made the announcement just before departing for Abu Dhabi, the first stop on a week-long tour that also includes Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan. He emphasized that the trip is intended to build regional cooperation and gather support for the evacuation plan.
Indonesia has consistently voiced strong opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and maintains no diplomatic ties with Israel. In its early response to the conflict, Jakarta called for an immediate end to violence, attributing the root of the conflict to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories citing United Nations resolutions as the basis for a lasting peace.
Rejecting Permanent Displacement
While Indonesia is open to providing temporary sanctuary, its officials have pushed back against any suggestion of permanent resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza. The Indonesian Foreign Ministry recently condemned a controversial proposal from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested turning Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East” under U.S. control, a plan Jakarta firmly denounced as an attempted forced displacement.
This stance underscores a possible contradiction in Indonesia’s policy: while eager to support Palestinian victims with humanitarian aid and temporary shelter, Jakarta is firmly against any long-term relocation that could undermine Palestinian sovereignty.
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