Baznas Launches Aid for Gaza Refugee Camp

RRI.CO.ID, Gaza City – Indonesia’s National Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) launched Light of Zakat Village" (Kampung Cahaya Zakat) on Monday, May 11, 2026. It is a temporary housing complex with various public facilities and humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. It iis expected to relieve the burden of Palestinians after the Israeli military destroyed their hometown in the Gaza war.

Funded by donations from the Indonesian public, the initiative has provided 200 tents for families, 50 toilets, a mosque, and a temporary school in Al-Balah refugee camp. The country's state agency also provides financial support for 20 teachers for eight months.

"BAZNAS has also distributed 4,000 ready-to-eat meal packages, 6,000 food packages, and 151,000 (liters) of clean water," Chairman of BAZNAS Sodik Mudjahid said, explaining that the aid benefits 11,714 people.

He stated that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is "highly committed" to the Palestinian people’s struggle. Therefore, as he said, Prabowo encourages all sectors, including BAZNAS, to provide support and assistance to Palestine.

Director for the Middle East at Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahrul Tsani Fathurrahman, welcomed the initiative. According to him, it is a concrete example of the Indonesian people’s continued solidarity with Palestine.

"This program not only delivers physical assistance in the form of tents, sanitation facilities, a mosque, or a school, but beyond that, it brings hope, a sense of security, comfort, and most importantly, a message to our brothers and sisters in Palestine that they are not alone," Ahrul said.

"Therefore, today’s launch is not merely a ceremony; it is a symbol of the Indonesian nation’s solidarity, a symbol that geographical distance does not hinder compassion, and a symbol that humanity unites many hearts to help one another," he continued.

The village project has attracted the attention of Friends of Palestine, a Pakistan-based network advocating for the Palestinian cause. The group's representative in Gaza, Atib Rayyan, said it hopes God bestows all goodness upon all parties involved and rewards them abundantly for their efforts.

"On behalf of myself, the refugees of the Gaza Strip, and the noble Palestinian people, we express our deepest gratitude and appreciation... We ask that they always stand with us," he said.