Indonesia Converts Remote Island into Medical Hub for 2,000 Gaza Wounded
Galang Island, once a UN refugee camp, will temporarily host injured Palestinians under a controversial humanitarian initiative.
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Indonesia announced Thursday that it will open a medical rehabilitation center on Galang Island- an uninhabited island located south of Singapore - to provide treatment for around 2,000 Palestinians wounded in the war in Gaza. The plan, described as a temporary humanitarian mission, will not grant the patients refugee status or permanent relocation rights.
The facility will include a field hospital and temporary housing for the wounded and their families. “We will offer medical assistance to 2,000 residents of Gaza, injured or trapped under rubble,” said Indonesian presidential spokesperson Hassan Nasbi. “This is not an evacuation. It is temporary medical care.”
A Former Refugee Island Reimagined
Galang Island holds historical resonance: it previously served as a United Nations refugee site during the Indochinese crisis and, more recently, as a COVID-19 treatment center. Now, Indonesia’s government is reviving it for a new, politically sensitive purpose - caring for Palestinian casualties from Gaza’s war zone.
Despite the logistical and medical significance of the move, Nasbi declined to share timelines or further details, referring inquiries to Indonesia’s Foreign and Defense Ministries. As of Thursday, those ministries had not responded to press requests.
Humanitarian or Political? Reactions Inside Indonesia
The plan has sparked debate within Indonesia. While government officials present it as a purely humanitarian gesture, critics recall a 2024 proposal by then-presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto to absorb Palestinian wounded, which drew warnings from religious leaders. Some warned the idea resembled a controversial plan by U.S. President Donald Trump, which involved relocating Palestinians from Gaza permanently.
In response, Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry reiterated its commitment to a two-state solution and firmly rejected any scenario involving the forced removal of Palestinians from their homeland.