Netanyahu Comments on Detention of Indonesian Nationals During Global Sumud Flotilla Humanitarian Mission

Jerusalem — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken about the interception and arrests carried out by the Israeli military of the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 humanitarian mission in the eastern Mediterranean near Cyprus. Netanyahu condemned the latest attempt to send aid to Gaza by sea, calling it an evil plan. “I believe you are doing an extraordinary job… thwarting the evil plans designed to violate the blockade that we have imposed against Hamas in Gaza,” according to a statement from his office, on Monday local time, cited by AFP on Tuesday 19 May 2026. “You carried it out very successfully… and of course with much less fanfare than our enemies anticipated,” he added. The Israeli Foreign Ministry had already condemned the convoy as provocation and promised to prevent it from reaching Gaza. “This time, two Turkish groups – Mavi Marmara and IHH, the latter designated as a terrorist organisation – are part of the provocation,” he said on X. Meanwhile, in a report by The Jerusalem Post, Israel’s naval special forces Shayetet 13 were said to have boarded ships joined to the GSF on Monday. Footage circulated showing activists moved to an Israeli military vessel before being directed to the port of Ashdod. It was also noted that the Foreign Ministry had previously asked the convoy to cancel the journey and turn back. However the flotilla pressed on toward Gaza, prompting the military to intervene. Ships confirmed intercepted and passengers detained include Amanda, Barbados, Blue Toys, Cactus, Furleto, Holy Blue. Also Kyriakos, Tenaz, Zio Fatare and Josef. Other ships still suspected of being intercepted include Jandabar and Sadabad. Nine Indonesians on board were Thoudy Badai (journalist), Hendro Prasetyo (humanitarian activist), Andre Prasetyo (journalist), Andi Angga (humanitarian activist), Ronggo Wirasanu (humanitarian activist), Herman Budianto (humanitarian activist), As’ad Aras (humanitarian activist), Rahendro Herubowo (journalist), and Bambang Nuryono (journalist). “The Indonesian Foreign Ministry strongly condemns the Israeli military action that intercepted several ships within the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 group in the waters around Cyprus, in the Eastern Mediterranean,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela when contacted by CNBC Indonesia on Monday night. “The situation on the ground remains very dynamic and developments are to be anticipated,” he asserted. “Since the outset the Foreign Ministry, via the Directorate for WNI, has coordinated with the Indonesian Embassies in Ankara, Cairo, and Amman to prepare anticipatory steps to ensure safety and expedite their repatriation. The Foreign Ministry also continues to engage with various parties to obtain the latest information on the status of the Indonesian nationals and to prepare contingency measures, including protection facilitation and expedited repatriation if necessary,” Vahd added. “Protection of Indonesian nationals will remain a top priority of the Indonesian government amid the rapidly evolving situation,” he said. (sef/sef) Add as a preferred source on Google [Gambas:Video CNBC]