Indonesian Minister Talks of Difficulties in Evacuating Citizens from Gaza Strip

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said the government keeps trying to evacuate ten Indonesian citizens trapped in the Gaza Strip amid the escalating tensions in the conflict area of Israel and Palestine.

“I am having communication with representatives of Indonesian citizens in Gaza almost every day. But, as the situation is still difficult, evacuation cannot be carried out yet,” Retno said in her press statement on Wednesday, October 18.

She also said she was continuing to talk with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and various parties that could help with the evacuation process. “We are making every effort to evacuate Indonesians safely.”

According to the latest data from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ten Indonesians are still trapped in Gaza. They are three MER-C volunteers who are in the Indonesian hospital and seven Indonesian families who married local residents.

The evacuation can only take place if Israel and Palestine agree to a ceasefire. On October 13, the Indonesian government managed to evacuate four citizens from the West Bank and surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, 129 Indonesians residing in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and parts of the West Bank decided not to return home because they felt that they were still safe.

The Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza was bombed on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. At least 500 people were killed and many were injured in the Israeli airstrike. Palestinian Health Ministry Spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qudra said most of the victims of the "massacre" were children and women.

ANTARA | REUTERS 

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