If Mr. Prabowo's plan to evacuate 1000 Palestinian Gazans is a step to help Palestine from the occupation and crimes of Israeli military aggression, such an action is indeed noble and sincere and even a source of pride for Indonesian citizens and should be used as an example by their closest Arab countries, as stated by the Chairman of PBNU, Gus Fahrur.
According to Gus Fahrur, "We strongly support and appreciate President Prabowo Subianto's full efforts in helping victims of Israeli military aggression in Gaza, it is truly a sincere, noble and proud effort for us as Indonesian citizens." (Detik News - 10/04/2025).
However, in my opinion, this is the wrong step - diplomatically and/or strategically wrong. Regarding this, I agree with what was stated by the International Relations Expert of the Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta (UMY), Ratih Herningtyas.
According to Ratih, the conflict between Israel and Palestine is not just a humanitarian crisis, but concerns the issue of state sovereignty. (Kompas - 11/04/2025)
As a result, if this evacuation plan is implemented, in my opinion, it will actually give Israel the green light to more easily annex it and then slowly it will be easier to declare it as Israeli territory.
WHERE IS HUBBUL WATHAN MINAL IMAN?....
Even if we read the opinion of Gus Ulil, who is also the Chairman of PBNU. Unlike Gus Fahrur who supports Mr. Prabowo's steps, Gus Ulil is of the view that if Mr. Prabowo's plan to evacuate 1000 Israeli Gazans in the context of relocation, then Indonesia's policy is a blunder. Because relocating Gazans from their homeland to outside Palestine is the same as an effort to realize the dream of Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu to expel the residents of Gaza, Palestine.
In fact, in the evacuation plan, Mr. Prabowo emphasized that the evacuation of Gazans to the Republic of Indonesia was only temporary, and if conditions in Gaza allowed, the evacuated residents must return to their place of origin.
If the Palestinian Gazans, whose numbers are not small, are really evacuated to Indonesia and Israel's claim to ownership of the territory is getting stronger, will they be able to return to their homeland. Who can guarantee it?.......
In addition, it is not that we are not sure about God's provision, nor are we stingy and neat, but looking at our nation's finances, Indonesia's current economic condition must also be a serious consideration. Do we have the ability to do that, for the free meal program alone, President Prabowo Subianto said that the government was forced to use funds from budget efficiency of Rp 24 trillion to support the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.
Instead of evaluating citizens, the government and all related parties and those who are capable, they should focus more on efforts to resolve the conflict diplomatically. By following up on the steps previously taken by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi.
If we want to talk about helping Palestine from the crimes of Israeli military aggression, it would be better to make efforts to immediately encourage a ceasefire and find a way so that the mobilization of humanitarian aid is easy and without many obstacles.
As a result, diplomatically and strategically, I personally think that the steps taken by Mrs. Retno Marsudi must be continued, even more attention than the evacuation plan or idea that Mr. Prabowo himself has. But fortunately, Mr. Prabowo himself gave a condition that all parties must agree to this plan.
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