MPR deems detention of Gaza volunteers a breach of international law

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly Hidayat Nur Wahid (HNW) says the detention of humanitarian volunteers and international journalists, including Indonesian nationals, by Israel during an aid mission to Gaza constitutes an open violation of international law and human rights. HNW notes that the detention of hundreds of civilians during the Global Sumud Flotilla II mission occurred in international waters, thus lacking any proper Israeli authority. ‘The abduction of 332 volunteers by Israeli forces occurred in international waters, not in waters under Israeli jurisdiction. This is, of course, an open violation of international law,’ HNW said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. He made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of Global Peace Convoy Indonesia (GPCI) at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Wednesday. HNW described the Israeli action as part of ongoing human rights violations against civilians and volunteers delivering aid to Gaza. ‘In principle, I strongly reject and am deeply concerned by the continuing humanitarian crimes by Israel and its Zionist forces, who have again detained or abducted hundreds of unarmed civilian volunteers delivering humanitarian aid,’ he said. HNW also urged the government to strengthen international diplomacy through the United Nations (UN), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and other global forums to secure the release of four journalists and one Indonesian volunteer who are detained. ‘The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should urgently take more concrete and effective action together with the UN and the OIC, because the state is constitutionally obliged to protect all Indonesian citizens,’ he added. According to HNW, Indonesia’s position as Chair of the UN Human Rights Council should be used to bolster international pressure on Israel regarding the protection of humanitarian volunteers and journalists. He also highlighted the high number of casualties among journalists in the Gaza conflict. Citing data from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), HNW said more than 260 journalists and media workers have been killed since October 2023. ‘Israel indeed targets journalists because they do not want the world to know the humanitarian crimes, including genocide, that they are conducting in Gaza,’ he said. In the meeting, Ahmad Juwaini, chair of the managing board of the Dompet Dhuafa Foundation, urged the Indonesian government to help in the immediate release of the detained Indonesian delegation. ‘We hope that through Mr Hidayat Nur Wahid, this message can be conveyed to the Indonesian government to assist in the prompt release of the Indonesian delegation,’ he said. Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that nine Indonesian nationals taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian convoy to the Gaza Strip were detained by Israeli forces. Three of them were journalists for national media, namely Bambang Noroyono and Thoudy Badai of Republika, and Andre Prasetyo Nugroho of Tempo.