Indonesia's bid to host Palestinians: Help or hype?

Indonesia's plan to host 2,000 wounded Palestinians on Galang Island is being seen as a humanitarian gesture that could boost its standing in the Islamic world, analysts say, but they warn it may be difficult to implement and risks being largely symbolic.

- Arlina Arshad

JAKARTA - Indonesia's plan to host 2,000 wounded Palestinians on Galang Island is being seen as a humanitarian gesture that could boost its standing in the Islamic world, analysts say, but they warn it may be difficult to implement and risks being largely symbolic.

The government has stressed that the initiative is temporary, does not constitute relocation and is still under review.

On Aug 7, head of the Presidential Communication Office Hasan Nasbi said President Prabowo Subianto had ordered medical care for victims of Israeli attacks, with their families temporarily housed on Galang during treatment.

"Indonesia will give medical help for about 2,000 Gaza residents who became victims of war, those who are wounded, buried under debris," Mr Hasan told reporters, adding that the evacuees will return to Gaza after recovery. The island of Galang is about 40km south-east of Batam.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono has said the plan is "not final", as the authorities continue to assess medical capacity and consider alternative sites.

The initiative is part of Indonesia's broader response since Israel launched an offensive in Gaza in October 2023, which Gaza health officials say has killed more than 60,000 people.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, has long supported the Palestinians through aid drops using Hercules planes.

But unlike Turkey or Qatar, which have treated wounded Palestinians, Indonesia has limited itself to mostly diplomacy and humanitarian aid.

Hosting Palestinians on Galang, off Sumatra and south of Singapore, would be unprecedented, raising questions about whether this is a bold humanitarian gesture or largely political theatre.

Since Mr Prabowo's offer in April, top Indonesian clerics have criticised the plan for being mooted too close to US President Donald Trump's plan to take charge of Gaza and permanently relocate its population.