Indonesia to Issue New Visas for Palestinian Students on Scholarships

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: The Indonesian government will soon issue new visas or extend existing visas for Palestinian students receiving scholarships to continue their studies in Indonesia, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra announced on Saturday.

The decision follows a report from Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Zuhair Al-Shun, who highlighted the visa issues faced by dozens of Palestinian students. Many of these students could not leave Palestine due to the ongoing conflict, leading to their visas expiring.

During a meeting in Jakarta on February 26, Mahendra reiterated Indonesia’s unwavering support for Palestine’s independence since 1948. He encouraged Palestinian authorities to strengthen diplomatic efforts with Arab nations to unify their stance on Palestine’s statehood.

The minister also addressed the destruction of the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza due to Israeli attacks. Representatives from the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), which built the hospital with Indonesian public donations, sought the government’s assistance in restoring operations. However, Mahendra acknowledged that the situation in Gaza remains highly unstable, preventing immediate action.

Ambassador Zuhair Al-Shun expressed gratitude for Indonesia’s steadfast support, emphasizing that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza requires urgent international attention. He noted that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are now homeless and facing severe shortages of food and medical supplies.

Indonesia’s latest initiative to facilitate student visas reinforces its commitment to supporting Palestinian people through education and humanitarian aid amid the ongoing crisis.