Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s plan to evacuate 1,000 wounded or orphaned Palestinians from war-torn Gaza has drawn a mixed response, with some viewing it as a compassionate gesture aligned with Jakarta’s long-standing support for Palestine, while others have raised concerns about its potential diplomatic implications.
The proposal – unveiled last week as Prabowo prepared for state visits to the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan – envisions providing temporary medical refuge in Indonesia for victims of the conflict.
Prabowo said the plan would proceed only with agreement from “all parties”, and stressed that evacuees would be repatriated upon recovery and “when the conditions in Gaza permit”.
“Indonesia is acceptable to all parties in the conflict,” Prabowo said on April 9. “This position makes us responsible … Indonesia is ready, if asked by all parties, to play a role according to its capacity and capabilities.”
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, has long championed a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
Last year, Prabowo said Indonesia was “ready to accept 1,000 traumatised Gaza children” for schooling, including in Islamic boarding institutions.
