Government Efforts To Evacuate Indonesian Citizens In The Palestinian Gaza Strip

Gaza/ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Mohammed Ibrahim

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said that the Indonesian government was trying to evacuate Indonesian citizens (WNI) affected by the Israeli military airstrikes in Beilt Lahiya in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, Saturday (7/10).

"We are trying to evacuate Indonesian citizens in the Gaza Strip," Prabowo said in Jakarta, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, October 9.

Prabowo emphasized that the Government will continue to follow developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, due to an Israeli military attack that also targets Indonesian hospitals there.

"Later we will follow the development of the situation in the Gaza Strip," explained Prabowo

Earlier, on Sunday (9/10), Defense Minister Prabowo had held a limited cabinet meeting to discuss the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine.

This was conveyed by Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor because Prabowo Subianto, who was previously scheduled to attend the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad saw's birthday. 1445 Hijriah at Afriansyah's residence, could not attend.

"I just got the WA, Pak Prabowo could not attend because I had to lead the cabinet meeting regarding the Middle East related to the Israeli attack targeting Indonesian hospitals," said Afriansyah.

Palestinian official news agency WAFA's correspondent on Saturday (7/10) said at least one Israeli missile hit the Indonesian Hospital in Beilt Lahiya.

As a result of the attack, a medical officer was declared dead. The attack also injured a number of other people, even damaging hospital essential equipment.

Indonesian hospitals in the Gaza Strip have been operating since December 2015. This hospital was built with funds originating from donations from the Indonesian people.

The health facility has a capacity of 110 beds and provides various health services, including inpatient services, operating rooms, ICUs, and emergency services.

Based on information from the Gaza-based Palestinian Ministry of Health, Sunday (8/10), the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 370 people and 2,200 others injured.

Meanwhile, the death toll from Hamas' sudden attack on Israel has reached 600, Israel's state-owned news channel Kan TV reported on Sunday, as reported by Xinhua on Monday.

On Saturday (7/10) evening local time, Israeli warplanes continued their attacks on military and civilian facilities at various locations in the coastal enclave, Palestinian security sources told Xinhua.

"Some Israeli attacks hit residential areas without any warning, and this is why the death toll is rising," Palestinian Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra told Xinhua.