Gaza Flotilla Activists Describe Torture, Starvation and Dehydration
Nine Indonesian citizens who participated in the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian mission have returned to Indonesia, arriving at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Sunday, 24 May 2026. They were greeted by family and the public after being detained by Israel during their mission to Gaza, Palestine.
Humanitarian activist Hendro Prasetyo recounted his experience of a hunger strike while detained by the Israeli military at sea. He stated that Israeli authorities provided limited food and drink to the hundreds of abducted volunteers. However, he said the Global Sumud Flotilla activists unanimously refused to consume the provisions from Israel. ‘Our principle is that everything they provide is suffering. We don’t know if it contains poison or not,’ he said, speaking at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Sunday, 24 May 2026.
They abstained from eating bread and mineral water provided by Israel for three to five days, leading to starvation and dehydration. ‘I couldn’t withstand the dehydration any longer, so I eventually drank some,’ he said.
The SMART-171 activist described harsh treatment when the volunteers were moved to a ship’s confinement. He said the water provided was extremely limited. ‘We drank tap water. We were given a single jug to share among 30 people, with each person allowed only three sips,’ he said.
Similarly, Andre Prasetyo, a TV Tempo journalist who joined the Global Sumud Flotilla mission to break Gaza’s blockade, said he participated in a three-day hunger strike. ‘I only ate and drank very little before being transferred to Ashdod,’ he said at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
Abuse extended beyond restricted food and drink. Andre recounted various forms of physical violence against the activists during detention. ‘My European friend was shot with rubber bullets. We were woken up by explosions,’ he said.
Andre’s hands were covered in bruises, which he attributed to being forcibly tied with cable ties. However, he stated that his suffering paled in comparison to that of the Palestinian people. ‘Do not forget to continue supporting Palestinian independence. I urge the government to keep pursuing diplomatic efforts,’ he said.