Human rights activist Hendro Prasetyo recounted the moments when\nIsraeli military vessels intercepted dozens of ships from the Global\nSumud Flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea in mid-May 2026. Hendro and\nfellow Indonesian citizen Asad Aras were aboard the Kasri Sadabad.<\/p>\n
The vessel carrying Hendro and Aras was intercepted by Israel on\nWednesday, 20 May 2026. Hendro described how Israeli military personnel\napprehended Global Sumud Flotilla volunteers without due process, with\nlow-flying drones observed near the ship.<\/p>\n
When drones approached the ship\u2019s hull, the crew halted all access.\nPassengers, he said, immediately put on life jackets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to throw our communication devices into the sea,\u201d he said\nduring an interview at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten on\nSunday, 24 May 2026. \u201cWe feared Israel would exploit them and\ndisseminate all information.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shortly after, an Israeli military dinghy approached the flotilla\nvessels. They were forcibly taken to the main vessel where hundreds of\nGlobal Sumud Flotilla activists were detained.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll were placed into containers on two vessels. In total, there were\ntwo large ships with four containers,\u201d Hendro stated.<\/p>\n
He recounted enduring various forms of torture while kidnapped and\nheld in containers, including being beaten, kicked, and subjected to\nelectric shocks. Hendro said Israel subjected all Global Sumud Flotilla\nactivists to such violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone experienced violence, whether young people, older men, or\nwomen,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He explained the violence was not only physical; the Israeli military\nalso inflicted psychological harm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey detonated explosives near the containers to disturb us,\u201d he\nsaid. The explosions were heard continuously day and night.<\/p>\n
All Indonesian citizens abducted by Israel were repatriated to\nIndonesia on Sunday evening, 24 May 2026. Prior to returning home, they\nwere flown to Istanbul, Turkey for health checks.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gsf-activist-recounts-kidnapping-by-israeli-soldiers-1780328715", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }