Government Urged to Garner Support from the UN Security Council to Secure Release of Nine Indonesian Nationals Detained by Israel

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – A member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, TB Hasanuddin, has urged the government to marshal support from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to ensure the safety of nine Indonesian nationals detained by Israel. Swift diplomatic steps are required to expedite the evacuation of the nine Indonesians involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) humanitarian mission to Gaza, Palestine. ‘The government must act quickly through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. Indonesia should marshal support at the UNSC, and request the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene directly to ensure the condition of the Indonesian nationals,’ Hasanuddin said in a statement on Wednesday (20 May 2026). Under international law, humanitarian volunteers and civilian journalists are to be respected in armed conflict. ‘Detention of humanitarian volunteers and civilian journalists in international waters cannot be justified. This concerns not only the safety of Indonesians but also respect for international law and protection of humanitarian missions,’ Hasanuddin said. He explained that a state has a constitutional obligation to protect all its citizens abroad. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said the government is pursuing an intensive approach with local authorities to secure the return of the nine Indonesians detained by Israel. The nine Indonesians, comprising four journalists and five activists, were detained by Israeli troops while carrying out the humanitarian voyage mission with the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0. ‘The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the Indonesian Mission, continues to pursue an intensive approach with local authorities and all parties involved to ensure the protection of these nine Indonesians,’ Yvonne said in a formal statement on Wednesday (20 May 2026). Yvonne emphasised that Indonesia urges the Israeli government to immediately release all ships and crew of the international humanitarian mission being detained. According to information from Global Peace Convoy Indonesia, on Wednesday (20 May 2026) the nine Indonesians had sent an emergency message (SOS) in the form of a video statement that they had been detained. See also: Wave of condemnation over the detention of Indonesian journalists and activists by Israel