Indonesia to Shelter 1,000 Wounded and Orphaned Palestinians Amid Gaza Crisis; Islamic University Hosts 400,000 Displaced

Indonesia plans to evacuate and temporarily shelter 1,000 wounded and orphaned Palestinians from Gaza, as confirmed by President Prabowo Subianto during a Middle East tour. The evacuees will stay in Indonesia until recovery and safe return conditions are met. Meanwhile, Gaza's Islamic University has become a refuge for over 400,000 displaced Palestinians due to the ongoing conflict, as U.N. shelters reach capacity. The university's transformation highlights the severe humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by Israel's blockade and military actions, which have devastated Gaza's educational infrastructure.

Indonesia’s Humanitarian Initiative

On April 9, 2025, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting Palestinians by offering temporary refuge to those most affected by the war in Gaza. Speaking before departing for a diplomatic tour that includes stops in Abu Dhabi, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan, Subianto detailed Indonesia’s plan to evacuate approximately 1,000 Palestinians in the first wave. The evacuees will include the wounded, traumatized individuals, and orphans.

“We are ready to evacuate those who are injured or traumatized, and orphans, if they want to be evacuated to Indonesia, and we are ready to send planes to transport them,” Subianto said. He emphasized that the initiative is strictly for temporary shelter and not for permanent resettlement. The evacuees will remain in Indonesia until they have fully recovered and the situation in Gaza is deemed safe for their return.

Subianto has instructed Indonesia’s foreign affairs minister to coordinate immediately with Palestinian authorities and other relevant parties to facilitate the evacuation. The president also noted that several countries have encouraged Indonesia to take a more active role in resolving the conflict, given its status as the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation and its longstanding support for Palestinian independence.

“This is something complicated; it’s not easy, but I think it encourages the Indonesian government to play a more active role,” Subianto said, underlining Jakarta’s broader diplomatic efforts in the region.

Gaza’s Islamic University: A Campus Turned Refuge

While Indonesia prepares to receive evacuees, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The Islamic University of Gaza, once a hub of academic life with over 17,000 students, has become a makeshift shelter for more than 400,000 displaced Palestinians. The transformation of the campus into a tent city underscores the scale of displacement caused by Israel’s renewed military campaign, which resumed after a ceasefire collapsed in March.

Families have taken refuge in the university after U.N.-run schools, traditionally used as emergency shelters, became overwhelmed. The university’s main auditorium, once the site of graduation ceremonies, is now filled with tents. Lecture halls and classrooms have been repurposed as living quarters. In the absence of fuel, families burn books from the university library to cook food. Makeshift markets have sprung up under the university’s archways, and water is distributed in large containers brought in by tractors.

The conditions are dire. Israel’s blockade has halted the entry of food, fuel, medicine, and other essential goods into Gaza for over a month, placing immense strain on aid agencies and the displaced population. Families like the Al-Basyounis and the Za’anins, displaced from Beit Hanoun, now live in tents on the university grounds, cooking over open fires and pooling resources to survive.

Destruction of Gaza’s Higher Education

The Islamic University is not alone in its devastation. All 17 universities and colleges in Gaza have been severely damaged or destroyed by Israeli airstrikes and ground operations over the past 18 months. The term “scholasticide” has been used by Palestinians and international academic groups to describe what they see as the systematic destruction of Gaza’s educational infrastructure.

Among the casualties are prominent academics, including the university’s president and physicist Sufian Tayeh, who was killed along with his family in a bombing, and English professor Refaat Alareer, known for his work with young writers. At Israa University, Israeli troops demolished the main buildings in a controlled detonation in January 2024.

Despite the destruction, some institutions, including the Islamic University, have attempted to continue limited online instruction. However, the physical campuses remain non-functional, and the focus has shifted to survival rather than education.

Indonesia’s Broader Role

Indonesia’s offer to shelter Palestinians is part of a broader strategy to increase its diplomatic and humanitarian footprint in the Middle East. Jakarta has consistently advocated for a two-state solution and has sent humanitarian aid to Gaza. In 2023, Indonesia’s foreign ministry publicly rejected proposals for the permanent relocation of Palestinians, including a plan floated by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

President Subianto has also expressed willingness to send peacekeeping troops to Gaza if required, signaling Indonesia’s readiness to contribute to regional stability beyond humanitarian aid.

References

• Indonesia offers to temporarily shelter wounded and orphaned Palestinians from Gaza
• Indonesia ready to shelter Palestinians impacted by war in Gaza
• AP PHOTOS: A bombed-out Gaza university becomes a shelter for displaced Palestinians
• AP PHOTOS: A bombed-out Gaza university becomes a shelter for displaced Palestinians
• AP PHOTOS: A bombed-out Gaza university becomes a shelter for displaced Palestinians