Jakarta (ANTARA) - Jana Abu Salha, a Palestinian student, expressed her deep gratitude to the Indonesian people and government, particularly President Prabowo Subianto, for awarding her and 22 fellow Palestinians scholarships to study at the Indonesia Defense University.

"On behalf of the Palestinian nation, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Indonesian people and government, especially to President Prabowo Subianto. Once again, thank you very much," she stated.

According to a statement released by the president's media team in Jakarta on Wednesday, Salha praised Indonesia's unwavering commitment to Palestine, citing its ongoing political, humanitarian, and educational support.

"The kind of support I am most grateful for is the scholarship program for Palestinian students, including myself. These scholarships have enabled us to pursue our studies in Indonesia free of charge," she said.

Furthermore, the Palestinian medical student highlighted that studying at Indonesia's University of Defense has taught her and her peers a great deal about positive values, particularly regarding the importance of dedication and discipline.

Salha then underscored that she views the scholarship program she enjoys as a concrete manifestation of the Indonesian nation's care for Palestinians.

"This initiative proves Indonesia’s sincere support for us, offering a ray of hope to Palestinian youth who face significant barriers to education and basic human rights," she remarked.

During his term as defense minister, President Prabowo pioneered the scholarship program dedicated to Palestinian citizens keen on studying at the University of Defense.

Since its inception in 2023, the program has been instrumental in furthering the bond nurtured by Indonesia and Palestine.

Under this initiative, the Indonesian government offers Palestinian students fully funded education in various fields for five years, including military medicine, military pharmacy, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and information security.

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Translator: Andi F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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