Again! Israeli Media Claims Agreement On Transfer Of Gazans To Indonesia

Israeli soldiers from the Nahal Infantry Brigade in the Gaza Strip. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - Israeli media on Thursday reported that Indonesia and a number of countries had reached an agreement to accept the citizens of the Gaza Strip, Palestine, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government seeks to accelerate the transfer to hold the Minister of Homeland Security Itamar Ben-Gvir to remain in the government of its leadership coalition.

Media Ynet News quoted Israeli officials familiar with this as reporting that PM Netanyahu's government held routine meetings to discuss the plan, directing Mossad to accelerate contact with countries that are willing to accept migrants from Gaza. Based on reports, Gazans will exit through Israel and Jordan, instead of Egypt, which marks a change in routes.

Reports show agreements have been reached with five countries willing to accept Gaza migrants, including Ethiopians, Indonesia and Libya, quoted by Ynet News Aug. 2.

PM Netanyahu is reported to have assured Ben-Gvir that if an agreement related to hostages is not reached immediately, Israel will begin facilitating the voluntary relocation of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza within weeks.

The initiative is reportedly involving coordination between Israel's security and diplomatic agencies, including the Mossad intelligence service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mossad chief David Barnea has reportedly discussed the matter with United Ameria Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and other American officials, to seek US support in the form of incentives for countries agreeing to accept migrants.

Separately, PM Netanyahu reportedly promised Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that his party would pursue the annexation of Gaza's northern territory if no agreement was reached.

Senior Israeli officials said PM Netanyahu still prioritized the hostage release agreement. However, anticipating congestion talks, preparations for relocation and annexation are ongoing.

To coordinate with the United States on this issue, PM Netanyahu is said to have sent Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Chief of Mossad to Washington for talks.

An Israeli official familiar with the discussion said that initially the issue of voluntary migration was theoretical, but now it is concrete.

"If there is no agreement, thousands of Gazans could start leaving voluntarily in the coming weeks - not millions, but several thousand," the official said.

This is not the first time Israeli media have claimed an agreement with Indonesia regarding the relocation of Gaza's population. Last March, Israeli media reported that 100 Palestinians from Gaza would travel to Indonesia to work in the construction sector as part of a volunteer migration pilot program.

This program follows discussions with the Government of Indonesia, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between Israel and Indonesia. Building communication channels between the two countries is needed to carry out these initiatives.

Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rolliansyah Soemirat, last March, emphasized that Indonesia had never discussed let alone made an agreement to move Gazans to the country.

"The Indonesian government has never discussed with any party or heard information about the plan to transfer Gazans to Indonesia, which was mentioned by several foreign media," said the spokesman for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time.

"We can emphasize that there is no discussion, let alone an agreement between Indonesia and any party regarding this matter," said the diplomat who is familiarly called Roy.

In the same month, Roy emphasized Indonesia's rejection of various ideas for the relocation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, in February, Roy emphasized that all efforts to move Gazans were unacceptable.

Meanwhile, in January, Roy said the Indonesian government had never received any information regarding the plan to temporarily relocate Gaza Strip residents to Indonesia, following a NBC News report reporting 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 idea was expressed by US President Donald Trump regarding plans to clean up the Gaza Strip and re-imulate the Palestinian enclave in Jordan and Egypt. The proposal comes a week after the ceasefire agreement in Gaza on January 19.