Foreign Ministry Reveals Indonesians Taken to Ashdod by Israeli Forces

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed the latest status of Indonesian citizens who joined the humanitarian mission Global Sumud Flotilla after being intercepted by Israeli forces. Heni Hamidah, Director of the Protection of Indonesian Citizens (PWNI) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the nine Indonesians and other humanitarian activists are currently undergoing questioning at Ashdod Port. ‘The latest information we have is that they have been taken to Ashdod,’ Heni said at the Ministry’s office in Jakarta on Thursday, 21 May 2026. Heni could not confirm how long the questioning at Ashdod Port would continue. ‘When will the process in Ashdod be finished? In Ashdod there are examinations. From there, they will be transferred to Israeli immigration detention,’ she said. She revealed that the nine Indonesians will later undergo repatriation back to the homeland after being moved to immigration detention. However, regarding repatriation, they are awaiting developments on the ground. ‘Detention should not be imagined as a prison. So, this is immigration detention. After that, we will see what the repatriation process will be like. Therefore, we have not yet been given information on the next steps,’ she emphasised. The repatriation of the Indonesian citizens will involve the Indonesian embassies in Rome, Ankara, Istanbul, Cairo, and Amman.