Indonesia Coordinates to Safeguard Gaza Volunteers
Indonesia’s government continues diplomatic coordination to safeguard Indonesian citizens detained by Israel while participating in a humanitarian mission to Gaza. To date, communications with the volunteers remain severely limited. Foreign Minister Sugiono said the government has engaged with friendly countries, notably Jordan and Türkiye, to obtain the latest developments regarding Indonesians in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF). ‘We are communicating with our colleagues at the foreign ministries in Jordan and Türkiye to ensure the conditions of our colleagues who were intercepted and detained by Israel. So far, the information we have is still difficult because communications are limited,’ Sugiono told reporters at the Indonesian House of Representatives building on Wednesday (20 May).
He noted that Indonesia continues to monitor the volunteers’ situation amid limited access with Israel. Because Indonesia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, coordination is conducted through other countries that also host citizens in the mission.
Sugiono said the government is asking for help from friendly nations to assist monitoring and to ensure the volunteers’ safety.
‘We also coordinate, because we do not have direct relations. So we ask our friends, especially those who have faced similar circumstances with their own citizens, and from our colleagues in Jordan and Türkiye,’ he said.
In the meantime, Sugiono also praised the volunteers’ actions who joined the Global Sumud Flotilla. According to him, their participation reflects concern for humanitarian conditions in Palestine, particularly in Gaza. ‘We applaud the spirit of the colleagues who joined the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) because it reflects a wish to create a better situation in Palestine, and in Gaza in particular,’ he said. He considers the humanitarian solidarity spirit to be worthy of praise amid the ongoing conflict in the region. ‘This is a spirit I think deserves appreciation; we hope their condition is fine,’ Sugiono added.
The Indonesian government hopes all Indonesian nationals involved in the humanitarian mission can return home safely soon. ‘Let us hope their condition is good and that they can return to the homeland soon in a safe and sound state,’ he concluded. (E-4)
Israeli forces reportedly seized more than 40 of the total 54 vessels involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian flotilla sailing toward the Gaza Strip on Tuesday (19 May).
The Indonesian Photojournalists Association (PFI) Central Branch condemns strongly the Israeli military action intercepting the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2026 in international waters.
Two Republika journalists Bambang Noroyono and Thoudy Badai were detained by the Israeli military in international waters.