Foreign Ministry says it has not established direct communication with Israel on Global Sumud
Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kementerian Luar Negeri, Kemlu) said that the government does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, so direct communication with Israel regarding the repatriation of Indonesian citizens who joined the Global Sumud Flotilla is not possible.
“If the answer is that there is no direct communication with Israel? We do not have diplomatic relations with Israel,” said Juru Bicara I Kemlu RI Yvonne Mewengkang at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, on Thursday.
Yvonne explained that the protection efforts and the immediate repatriation of nine Indonesian citizens detained by the Israeli military are being carried out through all diplomatic channels available to Indonesia.
Although she could not detail all the diplomatic efforts undertaken to safeguard the principles of diplomacy, she stressed that the government has communicated with friendly countries that have access to Israel.
Additionally, Foreign Minister Sugiono was said to have coordinated with partners such as Turkey and Jordan, where their citizens are also part of the humanitarian voyage to the Gaza Strip.
“We will continue to pursue all channels of communication, including through friendly states that have access to Israel, including the legal team or the Global Sumud Flotilla secretariat and other parties who can help ensure safe access to communication and the process of the release of Indonesian citizens,” Yvonne said.
“We will continue to pursue all channels of communication, including through friendly states that have access to Israel, including the legal team or the Global Sumud Flotilla secretariat and other parties who can help ensure safe access to communication and the release process,” she added.
Also present at the event, Juru Bicara II Kemlu RI, Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela, stressed that Indonesia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel despite being part of the same organisation as Israel, namely the United Nations (UN) and the Gaza Peace Board (Board of Peace), where Israel is also a member.
“Membership of the two countries in the same organisation does not reflect diplomatic relations between the countries. And this also applies, for example, when both are members of the UN and other bodies; it does not mean we have diplomatic relations,” he asserted.
The nine Indonesians who participated in the humanitarian convoy Global Sumud Flotilla to the Gaza Strip were abducted by Israeli Zionist forces as they intercepted their vessels. Among the nine abducted Indonesians were three national journalists on assignment: Bambang Noroyono and Thoudy Badai of Republika, and Andre Prasetyo Nugroho of Tempo.