Indonesia remains unchanged in its rejection of any plans to relocate the 2 million residents of Gaza, Foreign Minister Sugiono said in a statement, amid persistent suggestions by the United States of clearing the enclave of its local population.

“At the President’s directive, the Palestinians’ presence in the country will only be temporary and the plan is by no means aimed at their ‘relocation’ away from their motherland,” Sugiono said.

“I would like to confirm [...] that any efforts to alter the demographics of Gaza would constitute a violation of international law,” he added. 

On Wednesday, ahead of his five-country visit to discuss the latest geopolitical and geoeconomic developments with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan, Prabowo announced that the government stood ready to bring 1,000 injured Palestinians and orphaned children to Indonesia temporarily for treatment.

Prabowo’s announcement of his Gaza gambit, which was made without much elaboration, sparked concerns among religious groups and keen observers alike, including those who linked the offer to Jakarta’s attempt to strike a fair deal on trade tariffs with Israel’s main ally the US.

Several hours after the announcement, the Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI) released a statement scrutinizing the plan, with its deputy chairman Anwar Abbas arguing that it would benefit Israel and US President Donald Trump the most.