Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesia is preparing to provide medical care and temporary refuge for wounded Palestinians and their families on Galang Island, located off the coast of Sumatra and south of Singapore, officials announced today. The move comes amid escalating conflict in Gaza and growing international concern over the humanitarian crisis.
The facility designated for this purpose is a former COVID-19 hospital established in 2020. Prior to that, Galang Island served as a United Nations-run refugee camp from 1979 to 1996, accommodating approximately 250,000 Vietnamese refugees fleeing the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Currently, the island is uninhabited in the immediate vicinity of the hospital.
According to Indonesian officials, patients will receive treatment and remain on Galang Island until they have recovered, at which point they will be repatriated to Gaza. No specific timeframe for the operation has been provided, with further details deferred to the Indonesian Foreign and Defence ministries, which have yet to respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
The initiative follows a November 2023 offer by Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto to shelter wounded Palestinians.This initial proposal sparked criticism from Indonesian Islamic scholars, who expressed concern that it echoed a suggestion by former U.S. President Donald Trump to permanently relocate Palestinians from Gaza. Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry, a staunch supporter of a two-state solution, previously stated it’s firm opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians in response to Trump’s proposal.
Gaza Conflict and Israeli Debate over Occupation
The Indonesian plan unfolds against a backdrop of intensifying conflict in Gaza. Recent reports from Israel indicate a potential move towards a full military occupation of the territory, a strategy reportedly met with internal dissent within the Israeli Defense forces (IDF).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a three-hour security meeting on Tuesday,November 7,2023,with top security officials,including IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir,to discuss the war’s future course. According to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, Zamir cautioned that a full occupation would be a strategic error, likening it to “walking into a trap.”
Channel 12 television reported that Zamir proposed choice strategies, such as encircling specific areas believed to be strongholds for Hamas militants. Defence Minister Israel Katz, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), affirmed the IDF’s obligation to execute any decisions made by the government, despite acknowledging the Chief of staff’s right to express his views within appropriate channels. Katz emphasized that the military would carry out government directives “with determination and professionalism.”
The potential for a full occupation raises meaningful concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which is already facing a severe shortage of essential supplies, including food, water, and medical aid. The United Nations estimates that over 1.7 million Palestinians – roughly 70% of Gaza’s population – have been internally displaced since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023, following the Hamas attack on Israel that resulted in over 1,400 Israeli deaths and the abduction of over 240 hostages.
