Government Urged Not to Wash Its Hands After 9 Indonesian Citizens Freed from Israel: Monitor Their Return to Indonesia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Ahmad Iman Sukri, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission I, has urged the government not to wash its hands after nine Indonesian citizens (WNI) who are volunteers with Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 were released from detention by Israeli authorities. The PKB politician asked the government to continue guarding the repatriation process until they safely arrive in Indonesia. ‘This process should not be handed over just because they have been freed. The government must continue to oversee until they truly arrive in Indonesia. Coordination with all relevant parties needs to be strengthened to avoid obstacles during transit and repatriation,’ Iman said on Friday (22 May 2026). In addition, Iman asked the government to pay attention to the health conditions of the volunteers after their detention in Israel. He said health checks are important to ensure the physical and mental state of the Indonesian citizens remains sound after the harsh experience of detention. ‘The volunteers also need comprehensive health checks after arriving in Indonesia. The state must ensure they return home in a safe and healthy condition,’ Iman concluded. The activists and journalists were detained on different boats they were travelling on before being taken into custody by Israeli authorities. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said the nine Indonesian citizens have now arrived safely in Istanbul, Turkiye. ‘The Government of Indonesia states that the nine Indonesian citizens who are part of Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 and were detained by the Israeli military have arrived safely in Istanbul, Turkiye,’ Sugiono said via his official X account on Friday. Sugiono said the government is continuing to coordinate with various parties to ensure the repatriation of all Indonesian citizens to Indonesia proceeds smoothly.