Foreign Minister Affirms Efforts To Evacuate Indonesian Citizens From Gaza

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized that the evacuation of 10 Indonesian citizens from the Gaza Strip continues to be pursued every day, amid the increasing escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Almost every day I communicate with representatives of our Indonesian citizens in Gaza. However, because the situation is still very difficult, the evacuation cannot be carried out," said Retno in a copy of her press statement regarding the development of the situation in Gaza, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, October 18.

He also said that he continued to communicate with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and various parties who could help evacuate Indonesian citizens safely.

"All efforts will be made to be able to evacuate Indonesian citizens safely," promised Foreign Minister Retno.

Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as many as 10 Indonesian citizens who are still trapped in Gaza consist of three MER-C volunteers who are in Indonesian Hospital and seven people from Indonesian families who are married to local residents.

The tenth evacuation of Indonesian citizens can only be carried out if it is agreed to a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, which has been involved again in major battles since PalestinianHamas troops attacked Israeli territory on 7 October.

Previously, on October 13, 2023, the government had succeeded in evacuating four Indonesian citizens from the West Bank and its surroundings.

Meanwhile, as many as 129 Indonesian citizens living in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and parts of the West Bank chose not to return to the country because they felt their situation was still safe.