• Indonesia will establish a medical facility on Galang Island to treat 2,000 wounded Gazans.
• The initiative aims to provide temporary medical care, not permanent relocation.
• Health officials indicate over 60,000 Palestinians have died due to the ongoing conflict since October 2023.
• This plan has faced mixed reactions within Indonesia, particularly concerning the context of US policies.
• The facility's infrastructure will leverage existing medical resources from previous humanitarian efforts.

Indonesia's government announced plans to convert a medical facility on Galang Island to treat approximately 2,000 wounded Gazans, who will return home after recovery. This initiative is part of Indonesia's humanitarian response following the escalation of conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in over 60,000 Palestinian deaths according to health officials on the ground, with many casualties caused by bombardments and debris, according to Reuters, The Jakarta Post, and TRT Global.

According to presidential spokesperson Hasan Nasbi, the Galang facility is intended for short-term care, with patients expected to return to Gaza after treatment. The Indonesian government is also considering housing family members of the patients at the facility. "This is not an evacuation, but only for medical treatment,” Nasbi asserted, emphasizing the temporary nature of the assistance, as detailed by AA and The Jakarta Post.

The decision came after President Prabowo Subianto's instructions during a cabinet meeting, which aimed to detail the establishment of the facility. Indonesia's commitment to providing humanitarian assistance follows criticism over past offers that appeared to mimic U.S. policies regarding the Palestinian population, especially concerning any suggestions of permanent resettlement, as mentioned by Reuters and TRT Global.