Nine Indonesian Citizens Freed from Israeli Detention, Government Urged to Ensure Safe Return to Indonesia

Jakarta – Ahmad Iman Sukri, a member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PKB faction, praised the government’s success in freeing nine Indonesian nationals who were volunteers with Global Sumud Flotilla and had been detained by Israeli authorities. ‘Praise be to God, our nine fellow Indonesians have finally been released. We extend thanks to all parties who worked hard, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Global Peace Convoy Indonesia (GPCI), and all authorities who assisted in the release and repatriation of the volunteers,’ Sukri said in a statement on Friday, 22 May 2026.

Iman urged the government to continue to oversee the repatriation process until they arrive safely in Indonesia. ‘This oversight and cross-agency coordination are crucial, given that the volunteers were previously held at Ketziot Prison before their release,’ he added. ‘This process should not be left to one side after release. The government must keep guiding them until they truly arrive in Indonesia. Coordination with all relevant parties needs to be strengthened to avoid any obstacles during transit and repatriation.’

Earlier reports said that Foreign Minister Sugiono confirmed that the nine Indonesians participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian voyage to Gaza who were captured by Israel have been released and are now on their way back to the homeland. ‘Nine Indonesians detained by the Israeli military during the interception of the vessel and the arrest of volunteers belonging to Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 are currently on their way out of Israel, heading to Istanbul, Turkey,’ Sugiono said in a press statement confirmed in Jakarta on Thursday.

Sugiono said that the release of the Indonesian participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) to Gaza was the result of hard work and close coordination between the Indonesian government and various parties. ‘The Indonesian government will continue to oversee this repatriation until all Indonesians return safely to the homeland,’ the Foreign Minister said.

The Directorate for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has optimised all available diplomatic channels, including through the Indonesian Embassies in Ankara, Cairo, Rome, Amman, and the Indonesian Consulate General in Istanbul, which have been working intensively to secure the release of the Indonesian nationals.