12-10-2023 (JAKARTA) Indonesia, in a commitment to the safety and well-being of its citizens in the Palestinian Territories, is actively working on evacuation plans to bring them back home. This announcement came from Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi on Wednesday, who emphasized the importance of ensuring a secure situation before initiating the evacuation.
The Indonesian government’s efforts to repatriate its citizens are in alignment with the actions of other nations in the region. Countries like Singapore have been advising their citizens in Israel to make use of available commercial options for a swift departure.
Speaking at the Archipelagic and Island States Forum in Jakarta, Minister Retno stated that Indonesia has comprehensive data regarding the number of its citizens in the conflict-ridden region. She also revealed that an evacuation plan has been formulated, but the prevailing circumstances have yet to permit its execution. To facilitate the evacuation of Indonesians, the government has reached out to the International Committee of the Red Cross for support.
Presently, there are 45 Indonesian nationals in the Palestinian Territories, with 10 of them situated in the Gaza Strip, which has been a primary target of Israeli military airstrikes. Additionally, 230 Indonesians are engaged in religious tourism activities across various locations in Israel.
Indonesia is also actively engaging with Brazil, which presently holds the presidency of the United Nations Security Council and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Furthermore, Indonesian officials are in contact with their counterparts in the Philippines, a country that maintains an embassy in Israel. It’s worth noting that Indonesia, being the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, has no official diplomatic ties with Israel.
To ensure the safe return of its citizens, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Indonesia is preparing to execute evacuation plans through neighbouring countries to Palestine, namely Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt. The coordination for these efforts is underway, with Indonesian embassies in Amman, Beirut, and Cairo collaborating with various stakeholders to facilitate the evacuation process.
Among other ASEAN countries, Thailand has expressed its intention to bring back over 3,000 of its nationals from Israel. Out of approximately 30,000 Thai workers in Israel, about 5,000 are located in conflict-affected areas, with 18 casualties reported due to recent attacks. The return of these bodies is contingent upon Israeli forces securing the affected regions. Notably, Hamas has reportedly taken around 150 individuals as hostages, including 11 Thai nationals.
To address this situation, arrangements have been made for the repatriation of Thai citizens, with the first batch of 15 individuals having arrived safely. This group includes those who, while injured, are fit for travel. An additional 80 Thai nationals are scheduled to return home the following week.
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry has also taken action to repatriate its citizens in Palestine. Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir disclosed that these efforts are being conducted in cooperation with the Philippine embassy. The group to be repatriated includes a woman and a mother with three children, all holding Malaysian passports. Furthermore, a Malaysian doctor married to a Palestinian has been identified as safe, with plans in place to evacuate the couple in collaboration with their Philippine counterparts.
