Muhammadiyah condemns the detention of Indonesian journalists by Israel

Muhammadiyah condemned all forms of violence, including the case of the abduction of journalists carried out by the Israeli army against the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 humanitarian mission to Gaza, Palestine.

‘Muhammadiyah always condemns every form of intervention using violence or violent politics,’ said Haedar Nashir, the General Chair of Muhammadiyah’s Central Leadership, in Yogyakarta on Tuesday, 19 May.

According to him, violent politics will only end up harming all sides, including the current case, namely three Indonesian journalists and activists detained by the Israeli Navy while taking part in a humanitarian mission to Gaza, Palestine.

‘They have no political interests,’ he said.

He hopes that Israel does not act rashly in dealing with matters in Palestine, including arbitrary actions against the people of Gaza and all parties involved in peace and humanitarian missions.

Haedar also stressed that the United Nations must take action regarding Israel’s actions.

‘The UN must act, in my view,’ Haedar said.

On a global level, he continued, society faces a major challenge, namely conflicts or wars that are the choices of some superpowers.

He regards this situation as a sign of the loss of the philosophy of modern life that upholds humanity.

‘It has even become a dead-end of modernity, because after World War I and II we should no longer have wars,’ he said.

The UN, according to Haedar, as the forum for global unity should spearhead peace without wars that ultimately lead to global upheaval.

He hopes that nations around the world continue to speak out for an end to war, even though realising it is quite difficult.

‘Hard to stop (wars) because the perpetrators are those who dominate the UN, who have veto power, and who are superpowers,’ Haedar said.

The Israeli military intercepted several vessels in the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian mission and kidnapped activists, including three Indonesian journalists, in the midst of the voyage to Gaza, Palestine.