Indonesia Will Soon Issue New Visas For Palestinian Students

The Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections of Indonesia, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, announced that the Indonesian government will soon issue new visas for Palestinian students who have received scholarships to continue their studies in Indonesia. "If they return here, I assure you it won't be a problem. We will promptly provide new visas or extend the ones they already have," Yusril stated, as reported by Antara on Monday, March 3, 2025. This statement was made in response to the report from the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zuhair Al-Shun, during a meeting in Jakarta on February 26, 2025, regarding the situation of several Palestinian students with expired visas who need extensions. They had previously been unable to leave Palestine due to the ongoing conflict.

Additionally, Yusril inquired about Palestine's diplomatic efforts to elevate its status from a non-member observer state to a full member of the United Nations (UN). He also questioned the various diplomatic actions taken to adapt to the current shifts in the global political landscape, which Palestine should leverage to strengthen its position. "We know that military action is not a viable option for achieving Palestinian independence due to the military imbalance compared to Israel," he remarked. He reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to supporting Palestinian independence, highlighting that since 1948, both the government and the people of Indonesia have consistently backed the struggle for Palestinian statehood. He expressed hope that Palestine could engage in diplomacy with Arab nations to unify their support for Palestinian independence.

On the other hand, Yusril mentioned the situation of the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza, which can no longer operate due to Israeli attacks. The Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), the organization that built the hospital with donations from the Indonesian people, had previously met with Yusril to seek assistance from the Indonesian government for repairs. The hospital is located on land granted to MER-C by Palestine as a waqf. Once construction was completed, the operational management and responsibility of the hospital were handed over to the Palestinian health authorities. "Now that it is damaged, we need to know if MER-C will manage it again or what actions the Palestinian government will take. However, there is still no clarity on this matter as the situation in Gaza remains very challenging," he stated. At the same event, the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zuhair Al-Shun, expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from the Indonesian people and government for Palestinian independence. He added that Gaza still requires international attention and aid. "Hundreds of thousands of people are without homes, lacking food, and have very limited access to healthcare," Zuhair revealed.

Tag: New Visas For Palestinian Students Yusril Ihza Mahendra