Indonesian Volunteer Recounts Being Beaten, Stamped On and Electrocuted by Israeli Soldiers

TANGERANG, KOMPAS.com - Rahendro Herubowo, a volunteer with the Global Sumud Flotilla, reported experiencing physical violence, including being beaten and electrocuted, while detained by Israeli soldiers in the Mediterranean Sea. The man, known as Heru, arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang on Sunday, 24 May 2026, along with eight other Indonesian volunteers. Heru recounted that he was initially taken from the Ozgurluk ship he was aboard to an Israeli vessel. ‘First we were kidnapped, taken to a prison ship, which was quite large. From the moment we entered, we started facing torture,’ Heru said at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Sunday. Following this, Indonesian and international volunteers were ordered into a container-shaped transition room. Heru claimed he was beaten on the head and body until he fell. ‘I was hit on the head, I don’t know how many times. Then my front and back, and I fell. I was also stamped on. Finally, I was electrocuted, so I screamed loudly, and only then did they stop,’ he added. In addition to physical abuse, Heru stated detainees were handcuffed tightly. Israeli soldiers also manipulated the handcuffs restraining the detainees. When detainees walked, soldiers kicked them, causing them to fall. Heru explained that detainees were given two slices of bread and limited water. However, most chose to go on a hunger strike. ‘But because my condition was deteriorating, I had to eat at most a quarter of a slice a day. So we were effectively fasting during detention,’ Heru said. After five days in detention, the detainees were taken to Israeli immigration offices. However, before that, they were ordered to squat and remain exposed to the scorching midday sun around 12:00 local time.