Escalation Of Conflict In Gaza Increases, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Explains Efforts To Evacuate Indonesian Citizens In Israel And Palestine

The impact of the Israeli attack on Gaza. (Wikimedia Commons/International Solidarity Movement)

YOGYAKARTA The conflict between Israel and Palestine is heating up again, after Hamas fired 5,000 rockets and launched attacks with ground troops. In the aftermath of the attack, Israel declared an open war marked by airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. As of Saturday, October 7, 2023, at least 232 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

An increase in the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict made Indonesia open its voice. In addition to asking for conflict to stop, Indonesia opens up opportunities for the evacuation of Indonesian citizens (WNI) in the two countries. So, how are the efforts to evacuate Indonesian citizens in Israel and Palestine?

Regarding efforts to evacuate Indonesian citizens in Israel and Palestine, currently the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) is still coordinating with the Seconds of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) Cairo and Beirut.

The Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and BHI of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, said that his party was monitoring the situation in Palestine and preparing an evacuation plan for Indonesian citizens.

"For locations that still allow relatively safe movement, such as several points in Israel, Indonesian citizens are asked to leave the area immediately, including for Indonesian tourists," Judha said, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

He added that the security situation on the ground depends on its location, both in Palestine and Israel.

Based on the latest data, there are at least 45 Indonesian citizens in Palestine where 10 Indonesian citizens are in Gaza and others in the West Bank.

In addition, there are as many as 230 Indonesian citizens who are conducting religious tourism at various points in Israel and so far there have been no reports of Indonesian citizens being victims.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appealed to Indonesian citizens in Palestine and Israel to increase vigilance and continue to establish communication with representatives of the Republic of Indonesia.

For Indonesian citizens who have a planned visit to the region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks to postpone and cancel travel to both Palestine and Israel until further notice from the government.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also asked Indonesian citizens who were in an emergency to immediately contact the hotline of the Indonesian Embassy in Amman, the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo and the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut.

Previously, the plan to evacuate Indonesian citizens in Israel and Palestine was also conveyed by the Indonesian Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto.

He said the Indonesian government was trying to evacuate Indonesian citizens affected by the Israeli military airstrikes in Beilt Lahiya in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, on Saturday, October 7, 2023.

"We are trying to evacuate Indonesian citizens in the Gaza Strip," said Prabowo in Jakarta, Monday, October 9, 2023 night.

Prabowo said the government would continue to follow developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, due to an Israeli military attack that also targeted Indonesian hospitals there.

"Later we will follow the development of the situation in the Gaza Strip," explained Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.

The Hamas group launched a surprise attack on Saturday against Israel by launching rockets and infiltrating dozens of fighters into Israeli cities near the Gaza Strip.

This is information about the evacuation of Indonesian citizens in Israel and Palestine. Get news updates of other options only on VOI.ID.