Indonesia Strongly Condemns Israel's Attack on Global Sumud Flotilla
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and other countries have strongly condemned Israel’s attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla on 30 April 2026, a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at drawing international attention to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
This was conveyed in a joint statement by the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, South Africa, and Spain regarding Israel’s attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was posted on the official X account of Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) in Jakarta on Thursday.
“Israel’s attack on those vessels and the unlawful detention of the humanitarian activists in international waters constitute a clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law,” the statement quoted.
They expressed deep concern over the safety of those civilian activists and urged Israeli authorities to take the necessary steps to ensure their immediate release.
The ministers also called on the international community to fulfil their moral and legal obligations in upholding international law, protecting civilians, and ensuring accountability for such violations.
Meanwhile, Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated on Wednesday (6 May) that Israel must immediately and unconditionally release the flotilla members who were detained in international waters and taken to Israel.
According to him, efforts to show solidarity and deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population in Gaza, who are in dire need, are not a crime.
“We call for an end to the arbitrary use of detention by Israel and the broad and vague definition of terrorism laws, which do not comply with international human rights law,” Al-Kheetan said.
He stated that Israel must also end the blockade of Gaza and allow and facilitate the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip.
The Global Sumud Flotilla departed from Barcelona on 15 April, and on 30 April, Israeli forces seized the flotilla’s vessels near Crete, Greece, damaging their engines and navigation systems, according to the humanitarian activists.
The activists stated that Israeli forces boarded their ships and detained 180 activists, 178 of whom were subsequently released.
Saif Abukeshek, a Palestinian-descended Spanish and Swedish citizen, and Thiago Avila, a Brazilian citizen, remain in Israeli custody.
Israel claims that Saif and Thiago are suspected of “aiding the enemy during wartime” and being members of a “terrorist organisation.”