Indonesia and 12 Countries Urge Israel to Free Sumud Global Flotilla Activists

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia, together with Turkey, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, South Africa, and Spain, is urging Israel to release the Sumud Global Flotilla activists who were illegally detained on 30 April 2026.

This statement was affirmed by the foreign ministers of the 13 countries and was posted via the X account of Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, @Kemlu_RI, on Thursday (7/5/2026).

“The ministers are deeply concerned about the safety of the civilian activists and urge the Israeli authorities to take the necessary steps to ensure their immediate release,” read the post from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They also strongly condemned Israel’s attack on the Sumud Global Flotilla.

For context, the Sumud Global Flotilla is an international coalition of humanitarian activists delivering aid to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

“The Ministers also call on the international community to fulfil their moral and legal obligations to uphold international law, protect civilians, and ensure accountability for these violations,” stated the Ministry.

This incident has sparked international condemnation, particularly due to the interception location, which is considered far from the Gaza blockade zone.

“Our ships were illegally surrounded by Israeli vessels,” read the official statement from the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Organisers claim that at least 22 out of the total 58 vessels in the flotilla were boarded by military forces.

Activist Yasmine Scola, who was on board one of the ships, echoed the same, as reported by AFP.

She stated that her colleagues had been abducted by Israel, emphasising that their ship was only carrying humanitarian aid.

“My ship was carrying school supplies and food,” said Scola.