NBC News recently published a report quoting an unnamed official from former US President Donald Trump's team, detailing discussions within the newly inaugurated administration regarding rebuilding efforts in Gaza. This report has incited significant uproar in Indonesia, as it mentioned the potential relocation of some of the 2 million Palestinians from Gaza to Indonesia. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a recent development, has prompted these discussions.
The suggestion, put forth by a member of Trump's transition team, proposed relocating Palestinians to Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. This proposal was met with strong opposition from Indonesian officials and the public alike. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly responded by publishing a statement on X, unequivocally refuting the proposal and confirming that the US administration had not approached them about such plans.
"Indonesia's stance remains unequivocal: any attempts to displace or remove Gaza's residents is entirely unacceptable."
— Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Indonesian officials have consistently denied and denounced any notion of relocating Palestinians to their country. They have emphasized that such efforts would only exacerbate the situation in Gaza and contradict Indonesia’s commitment to supporting Palestinian sovereignty.
"Such efforts to depopulate Gaza would only serve to perpetuate the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and align with broader strategies aimed at expelling Palestinians from Gaza."
— Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The possibility of relocating Palestinians has raised concerns about the broader implications of the proposal. Indonesian leaders argue that moving Palestinians out of Gaza aligns with broader strategies to displace them from their homeland, rather than addressing the root causes of the conflict. Meanwhile, the US administration continues to explore options for rebuilding Gaza in light of the recent ceasefire.
Despite these discussions, the Indonesian government remains steadfast in its support for Palestinian sovereignty and rejects any plans that undermine their territorial integrity. The uproar surrounding this proposal underscores Indonesia’s commitment to upholding international law and advocating for a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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