JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS- Amnesty International Indonesia has urged the Indonesian government to reconsider its plan to relocate 2,000 Palestinians from war-torn Gaza to Galang Island, warning that such a move could inadvertently align with broader agendas aimed at depopulating the besieged territory.

Responding to the proposal, Amnesty International Indonesia’s Deputy Director, Wirya Adiwena, emphasized that while the government’s intentions may be humanitarian, the relocation plan must be approached with great caution.

“If not handled carefully, this policy could unintentionally align with the broader strategy of Israel and the former Trump administration in the United States, which seeks to empty Gaza by relocating its two million residents abroad,” Wirya said.

Wirya stressed that any forced transfer of Palestinians from occupied territories, without their full consent, could be considered a war crime under international law.

“Indonesia must be careful not to take steps that could be perceived as supporting Israel’s illegal occupation of Gaza,” he stated.

Amnesty called on Indonesia to reject any initiative that could facilitate the depopulation of Gaza. Instead, the organization urged the government to adopt a clear policy: demand an end to Israel’s genocide and apartheid, call for a permanent ceasefire, and push for the opening of humanitarian corridors to address the severe famine gripping the territory.

The organization also raised questions about the timing of the decision. Wirya pointed out that the evacuation plan had been circulating since January but resurfaced shortly after the conclusion of trade negotiations between Indonesia and the United States.

He questioned whether the relocation was linked to an earlier proposal by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who in February expressed his desire for the United States to take control of Gaza and relocate its population to neighboring countries.

Highlighting the historical context, Wirya recalled that half of the Palestinian population was displaced during the 1948 Nakba. Today’s residents of Gaza are survivors or descendants of those uprooted in 1948.

“We must ensure that Indonesia’s desire to help Gaza does not end up enabling a new Nakba in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attacks,” he warned.

Amnesty further cautioned that the volatile situation in Gaza means that relocated residents might not be able to return, creating a protracted refugee crisis.

Wirya asked whether Indonesia was prepared to guarantee the long-term fulfillment of their basic rights, especially given that the country still has at least 12,000 refugees and asylum seekers whose fundamental needs remain unmet.

The relocation plan emerged from a cabinet meeting on August 6, 2025, where President Prabowo Subianto directed government agencies to provide medical assistance to around 2,000 Gazans injured in the conflict.

Presidential Communications Office Head Hasan Nasbi confirmed that Galang Island in the Riau Islands Province would be prepared as a treatment center for the group.

The Riau Islands Provincial Government, through Vice Governor Nyanyang Haris Pratamura, has expressed full support for the central government’s plan to temporarily host Gazans on Galang Island while they undergo medical treatment.(Uki Ruknuddin)

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