The Indonesian Government Affirms All Efforts To Transfer Gazans Cannot Be Accepted

Refugees in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. (Twitter/@UNLazzarini)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that any attempt to move the citizens of the Gaza Strip, Palestine, was unacceptable, pushing a ceasefire in the Hamas militant group with Israel to become a momentum to initiate dialogue and negotiations to realize a two-state solution.

In a statement on its website, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote, "The Indonesian government has never received any information, from anyone, or any plans related to the relocation of some of Gaza's 2 million residents to Indonesia as part of post-conflict reconstruction efforts," as quoted on Tuesday, January 21.

The plan to temporarily relocate Gaza Strip residents to Indonesia, as stated by a US Government transition official, follows a ceasefire in Gaza.

In an NBC News report, a transitional official with direct knowledge of the Hamas-Israelian ceasefire process in the Gaza Strip said Indonesia was one of the locations discussed to serve as a temporary relocation destination for Palestinians.

It is said to be related to how to rebuild the Palestinian enclave and where about 2 million Palestinians can be temporarily relocated.

"The government avoids speculating about the issue without any clearer information," the ministry said.

"Indonesia remains firm in position: any effort to move Gazans is unacceptable. Efforts to reduce Gaza's population will only maintain Israel's illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories and are in line with a larger strategy aimed at expelling Palestinians from Gaza," explained the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Instead of temporarily relocating the population, Indonesia emphasized that the ceasefire should be a momentum to realize the two-state solution.

"The ceasefire in Gaza must be a momentum to initiate dialogue and negotiations to realize a two-state solution, in accordance with international law and the international parameters that have been agreed upon," the ministry exclaimed.

It is known that a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was announced on Wednesday last week, after months of mediation, and took effect on Sunday.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said last week that Indonesia welcomed the ceasefire, but emphasized that lasting peace could only be achieved if Israel ended the occupation, an independent and sovereign Palestinian.

"I emphasize that peace is only possible, if Palestine is independent and sovereign, in accordance with the two countries' solutions that have been agreed upon by the international community," he said in a tweet on social media X last week.

The latest conflict in Gaza broke out on October 15, 2023, when the Hamas-led Palestinian militant group attacked Israel's southern region, leaving 1,200 people dead and 250 others hostage, according to Israeli calculations.

On Monday, medical authorities confirmed on Monday that the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza had reached 47,035, while another 111,091 had been injured since October 7, 2023, quoted from WAFA.