Foreign Minister Asks For ICRC Support For The Evacuation Of Indonesian Citizens From The Gaza Strip

Archives - The MER-C media team from Indonesia helped the victims of the Israeli attack on Gaza, Palestine, Saturday (13/5/2023). (ANTARA/HO-MERC)

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi asked for the support of the International Red Cross (ICRC) to evacuate Indonesian citizens (WNI) from the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

"Foreign Minister Retno has communicated directly with the President of the International Red Cross in Geneva, Mirjana Spoljaric," said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 10.

Iqbal said, in communication with the President of the ICRC, Retno asked for support for the evacuation of Indonesian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Retno also urged the ICRC to participate in encouraging efforts to stop violence, which was followed by the implementation of the humanitarian corridor.

In addition to communicating with ICRC, Retno has also held talks with Brazil as President of the United Nations Security Council (DK PBB) regarding the need for efforts to stop violence and agree on the Humanitarian Corridor.

Then, Indonesia has also communicated with the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) regarding this matter.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Embassy in Amman, Beirut and Cairo are fully alerted to monitor the development of the situation in conflict areas and to ensure protection for affected Indonesian citizens.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Indonesia is currently preparing a contingency plan for the evacuation of Indonesian citizens with several scenarios of the situation.

This scenario includes the possibility of evacuating Indonesian citizens through the closest Palestinian countries, namely Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt.

"Currently the government, through the Indonesian Embassy in Amman, the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut, and the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, are coordinating with various parties to evacuate Indonesian citizens in the Palestinian territories, especially the ten Indonesian citizens who are in the Gaza Strip," said Lalu Muhammad Iqbal.

Based on data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are currently 45 Indonesian citizens in Palestine, with 10 of them in the Gaza Strip at the center of the Israeli military airstrikes.

In addition to the dozens of Indonesian citizens, there are also 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.