Indonesia plans to convert a medical facility on an uninhabited island into a treatment center for approximately 2,000 wounded individuals from Gaza, according to a spokesperson for the Indonesian president. Hasan Nasbi, the spokesperson, stated that Indonesia will provide medical assistance to those affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza, including those buried under the debris. The facility, located on Galang island off the coast of Sumatra, was previously a camp for Vietnamese asylum seekers. Additionally, the island will act as a temporary shelter for the families of the wounded individuals. The patients will be returned to Gaza once they have recovered, although further details about the timing of the plan and the assurance of their return remain unclear.
Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country, has already sent humanitarian aid to Gaza following the start of Israel’s military operations in October 2023, which have resulted in the deaths of over 60,000 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza health officials.
This decision comes after a recent report by Axios, stating that the director of Israel’s Mossad spy agency visited Washington in July to seek US assistance in convincing countries like Indonesia, Libya, and Ethiopia to accept hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza. However, the Indonesian foreign ministry has denied these claims, affirming that they have never discussed such a plan with anyone.
The Indonesian president’s offer to provide shelter for wounded Palestinians in the past faced criticism from the country’s highest religious authorities for its perceived similarity to US President Donald Trump’s suggestion of permanently relocating Palestinians from Gaza. Trump had previously stated that the US would take control of Gaza and transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Buya Anwar Abbas, the deputy chair of Indonesia’s Ulema Council, has advised caution in dealing with Israel’s actions and emphasized that any medical aid needed for Gaza residents should be provided within Gaza itself, not elsewhere. He argues that as a nation that has experienced 350 years of colonization, Indonesia should be cautious of the tricks and deceptions of the occupiers.
Another prominent leader from Nahdlatul Ulama, Rais Syuriah, has raised concerns about the motives behind this plan, questioning the certainty of Palestinians being able to return to their homes and expressing fears that this could facilitate Israel’s territorial expansion.
Indonesia’s foreign ministry, which supports a two-state solution to the crisis in the Middle East, has strongly rejected any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians.
Galang Island previously housed a hospital designed to treat victims of the Covid-19 pandemic. The island itself had served as a refugee camp for 250,000 people who fled the Vietnam War until 1996.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/08/indonesia-wounded-gaza-residents-galang-island
