Hamas Wants Indonesia To Accommodate Israeli-Free Detainees, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs: No Official Communication

Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Roy Soemirat. (Source: Kenlu RI/Abi)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there was no official communication with Indonesia regarding the news of the desire of the Hamas militant group to place prisoners released by Israel based on a ceasefire in the country.

Saudi Arabian media quoted Palestinian media as reporting on Monday that Hamas was negotiating with Indonesia and Algeria to accommodate Palestinian prisoners released by Israel.

"Until now, there has been no official communication via diplomatic channels between Indonesia and related parties regarding the issue," said Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Roy Soemirat in a statement Tuesday, February 4.

"The Indonesian government communicates officially with the Palestinian National Authority which is the holder of the current Palestinian government authority," he continued.

It is known that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is currently led by President Mahmoud Abbas from the Fatah faction based in the West Bank. Meanwhile, Hamas, a competing faction from Fatah, is in power in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, Arab News quoted Palestinian media as reporting on Monday that Palestinian militant groups were in talks with a number of countries to accommodate Palestinian prisoners released by Israel according to a gradual Hamas-Israel armed deal.

"The (Hamas) movement is currently in talks with several countries to seek approval to accommodate other released prisoners," the news agency said, citing a "senior Hamas official."

"Nationalities that have agreed to accept them so far include Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan, and Malaysia," the report continued.

Hamas is also negotiating with Algeria and Indonesia to accommodate the detainees, while Tunisia refuses to host, the news agency reports.

Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire as well as the release of hostages on both sides gradually on January 15, after the latest conflict broke out since October 7, 2023 and months of mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. That then took effect on January 19.

The initial six-week ceasefire phase includes gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from central Gaza and the return of Palestinians displaced to northern Gaza.

At this stage, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women (armaries and civilians), children, and men over 50 years old. Instead, Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners for each civilian hostage and 50 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli female soldier released by Hamas.

Hamas has so far released 18 hostages in exchange for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons.

On the other hand, there are still more than 70 hostages detained in Gaza.

The report said 99 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel had been deported to Egypt, with 263 expected to be released once the first phase of the release process is complete.

It said 15 Palestinian prisoners were expected to arrive in Turkey on Tuesday from the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

The latest conflict in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, when the Hamas-led Palestinian militant group attacked Israel's southern region, leaving 1,200 people dead and 250 others held hostage according to Israeli calculations.

Yesterday, medical sources in Gaza confirmed that the death toll from Palestine since the conflict in Gaza has reached 47,518 people, while the number of injured has reached 111,612 people, the majority are women and children, quoted from WAFA.