Baznas Prepares Logistics And Law Support For Evacuation Of Gaza Victims

Illustration of Palestinian refugees in Gaza (@dok UN)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) has stated that it is ready to facilitate Palestinians if President Prabowo Subianto decides to evacuate Palestinians to the country.

"Baznas is ready to collaborate with various parties to facilitate care and education for children who are injured, who are sick and orphans. Currently, quite a lot of people are receiving treatment in Egypt and Jordan," said Chairman of the Indonesian National Baznas Noor Achmad as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, April 17.

Noor emphasized that his party supports President Prabowo Subianto's good intentions in carrying out temporary evacuations for some Gazans (Palestinians) who are injured, orphans, and those suffering from other diseases due to aggression that are still ongoing in the region.

"There is indeed a lot of information from the Baznas team that must be helped. If they are not helped immediately, they can die because there is no treatment and medicine," he continued.

Noor emphasized that Baznas did not see that the evacuation followed the policy of US President Donald Trump. "We need to distinguish between evacuation and relocation. Evacuation is temporary and must be returned after recovery," he said.

"After they recovered and the situation allowed, they will be returned to Gaza. Evacuation concerns for some Gazans, namely around 1,000 to 2,000 people, which are equivalent to relocation, of course, must be dismissed because the number of Gazans is no less than 2.2 million people," Noor continued.

According to Noor, Palestinian refugees in Egypt and in Jordan also really need help, because many are hospitalized, but their capacity is not sufficient. Therefore, he considered the official evacuation to Indonesia to be a strategic step.

He added that the evacuation and return process to Gaza must be carried out officially through diplomatic channels, in order to ensure protection and legal certainty for the refugees. For this reason, it is necessary to immediately coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu)

"Including hospitals in Egypt that receive new patients from Gaza every day. Many of them enter unofficially. Therefore, if this evacuation is carried out officially, the return to Gaza must also go through official channels," said Noor.

He reiterated that Baznas is ready to fully support the evacuation process for some Gazans, including if asked to help treat the refugees.

"If asked Baznas to be ready to participate. We have sufficient experience and partners to help logistics and humanity," said Noor Achmad.