Indonesia to temporarily shelter 2,000 wounded Gazans for medical treatment

Indonesia plans to temporarily provide medical treatment and shelter to around 2,000 wounded Gazans, including their family members, on Galang Island, according to Hasan Nasbi, spokesman for President Prabowo Subianto.

At a press conference on August 7, Hasan revealed that President Prabowo had directed the Defence Ministry and Foreign Ministry to finalise the details of the humanitarian effort during a recent cabinet meeting, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

“The president has given instructions for Indonesia to provide medical assistance for around 2,000 Gazans who are victims of war, including those wounded by bombs or the rubble … as well as their family members,” Hasan said.

Galang Island was chosen for the mission due to its existing medical infrastructure and history as a refuge. Between 1979 and 1996, the island served as a shelter for Vietnamese refugees fleeing conflict in their homeland. Located in the Riau Islands province in western Indonesia, Galang also previously housed COVID-19 patients.

“We intend to set up the medical treatment center in Galang Island because it already has a hospital, as well as the supporting facilities. … Galang is also separated from our citizens residing in other [neighboring] islands,” Hasan added.

Addressing concerns over security and comfort, Hasan reassured that the Gazans would be well taken care of during their stay. He emphasized that the operation is strictly humanitarian and temporary.

"This is not an evacuation, but only for medical treatment. They will return to Gaza once they have recovered. We are not moving them [out from Gaza], but this is a humanitarian operation to help as many people as we can," Hasan stated.

This announcement follows President Prabowo’s earlier proposal in April to host Gaza’s wounded, orphans, and traumatized civilians temporarily, with an initial phase aiming to shelter around 1,000 people.

In addition to the medical assistance, Indonesia plans to deploy peacekeepers to Gaza once a ceasefire is established. Hasan also mentioned preparations to dispatch two Hercules military planes to airdrop food aid into Gaza. However, Foreign Minister Sugiono recently described airdropping aid as “risky” due to the potential dangers of supplies landing on tents or causing injuries.

By Sabina Mammadli