"The Indonesian Government has never spoken to any party or heard information on a plan to resettle Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in Indonesia as several foreign media outlets reported," the ministry's spokesperson, Rolliansyah Soemirat, stated.
He noted in a press statement received here Thursday that Indonesia is currently pushing for a way to immediately reach the second phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Soemirat remarked that the Indonesian Government is also pushing for uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the immediate start of post-war reconstruction in the Palestinian enclave.
On Wednesday, March 26, The Times of Israel quoted a report from Channel 12 news, a Hebrew media outlet, revealing that "A first group of 100 Gazans is set to fly to Indonesia for work as part of a pilot program."
The pilot program to be run by the Israeli Defense Ministry body called the Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) is aimed to "encourage the voluntary migration of Palestinians from the Strip", according to the Israeli media report.
The Times of Israel claimed that owing to the absence of diplomatic relations, a special communication channel was opened between Israel and Indonesia to develop the program.
Regarding the prolonged conflict between Israel and Palestine, Indonesia has consistently supported the people of Palestine's struggle for independence.
Recently, while delivering his annual press statement, Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono said the Indonesian Government has vowed never to leave the Palestinian people behind, given its Constitutional responsibility to maintain world peace.
"Indonesia remains committed to supporting the plight of the Palestinian people, to delivering humanitarian aid, and to supporting UNRWA," he remarked, adding that Indonesia has called for holding Israel accountable for its ongoing atrocities in Gaza before international law, stressing that international law must be obeyed without double standards.
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Translator: Cindy FO, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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