“We are ready and waiting for the President’s directives,” said Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf on Thursday.
He noted that several sites have been identified as potential evacuation centers, including one in Pangkalpinang.
However, Yusuf clarified that no formal instruction has yet been issued by President Prabowo Subianto regarding the relocation plan.
"As of now, there has not been any directive, but we are making preparations," he said.
Earlier, President Prabowo stated that Indonesia is ready to receive approximately 1,000 Palestinians in the first wave—focusing on those who are injured, traumatized, or orphaned children.
“We are ready to send planes to transport them. We estimate the number to be 1,000 for the initial phase,” he said.
However, Prabowo emphasized that the plan can only move forward with the consent of the Palestinian authorities and other relevant parties.
“The conditions are that all parties must agree to this. Secondly, their stay will be temporary. Once they recover and conditions in Gaza improve, they must return,” he explained.
“This is the position of the Indonesian government. For this reason, I need to consult with the leaders in the region,” he added.
Earlier this month, the President visited five countries in the Middle East—United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan—to gather support for his government’s plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians to Indonesia.
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Translator: Anita, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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