From Ship to Detention, Returning with Testimonies

Ronggo Wirasanu has finally returned to Indonesian soil. However, his return to Indonesia is not merely the conclusion of the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0’s long journey to Gaza. He brings back accounts of maritime tensions, detention violence, and indelible memories. At Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday (24 May) afternoon, Ronggo’s voice was calm. Yet his testimony revealed the tense scene when the humanitarian ship he was on was intercepted by Israeli military forces on 19 May 2026. ‘The interception began on 19 May. A military vessel approached ours, followed by two armed speedboats. Our ship was intercepted, hijacked, and damaged,’ Ronggo stated. The journey, initially a humanitarian mission to Gaza, turned into a bitter ordeal. Volunteers from various countries, he said, were forced to transfer to military vessels where physical abuse began. ‘We were punched and kicked on the military ship. Then transferred to Ashdod Port for immigration processing, where we were beaten again,’ he added. From Ashdod, they were taken to a detention facility in Negev, southern Israel. Ronggo said violence was not only inflicted on him but also on many other volunteers. ‘Torture and violence continued by Zionist soldiers. Almost 400 people suffered the same treatment,’ he said. Among the nine Indonesian nationals who returned were Republika journalist and Global Sumud Flotilla volunteer Thoudy Badai. While grateful to have returned safely, her relief was tempered by the realisation that their ordeal paled in comparison to the suffering of Palestinians. ‘What I and my fellow volunteers endured—the violence and anguish inflicted by Israeli Zionists—pales against the plight of thousands of Palestinian detainees, mostly children, mothers, and pregnant women,’ Thoudy stated. For Thoudy, the experience was not a reason to stay silent. On the contrary, she urged the international community to maintain focus on Palestine. ‘I hope people worldwide continue to support and voice the Palestinian cause, as this can drive Palestine towards freedom,’ she said. Nine Indonesian volunteers from the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 arrived in Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday afternoon. They were evacuated by the Foreign Ministry through Indonesian diplomatic representatives after being released from Israeli custody. Their return journey took them via Istanbul to Dubai on Saturday night, followed by Dubai to Jakarta on Sunday morning. The aircraft arrived in Indonesia at approximately 3:30 PM WIB. Behind their homecoming lies testimony far beyond diplomatic proceedings. They returned as survivors, witnesses to the alleged violence against humanitarian volunteers, and a reminder that the Palestinian crisis demands global attention. (Antara/Z-10)