Ustaz Zaitun Urges Islamic States within BoP to Pressure US Over Indonesians Detained by Israel

Nine Indonesian citizens (WNI) were reported victims of detainment and abduction carried out by the Israeli military. They were participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2 humanitarian mission aiming to reach the Gaza Strip, Palestine, by sea. A short while after sailing from Turkey, on Tuesday (19 May 2026), the Indonesian nationals along with dozens of other GSF 2 activists were captured by the occupying Israeli forces while in international waters. Ustaz Muhammad Zaitun Rasmin urged the Islamic nations that are members of the Board of Peace (BoP) to be willing to press the United States (US) to release all humanitarian activists of GSF 2 held hostage by Israel. As is known, BoP is led by US President Donald Trump and comprises around 20 member states, including the Republic of Indonesia and seven predominantly Muslim countries from Asia and Africa. Ustaz Zaitun also urged the Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu), to move quickly to safely repatriate the nine Indonesian nationals. Furthermore, according to the preacher, Kemenlu RI could contact the seven Muslim-majority states that are also BoP members to support the effort to free the hostages. ‘Kemenlu RI is expected to utilise communications with the seven Islamic countries (within BoP) and press the President of the United States (Donald Trump) to order or instruct Zionist Israel to release all hostages,’ said Ustaz Zaitun at the Office of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Central, Jakarta, on Thursday (21 May 2026). He stressed that Zionist Israel ought to listen to the words of the U.S. President Trump. This is with the consideration that Trump should heed the input from the eight Muslim-majority countries, including RI, that are BoP members. Statement from MUI: The MUI, together with a number of Islamic mass organisations and national philanthropic bodies, issued a stance regarding the kidnapping reported by Zionist Israel of GSF 2 participants, including nine Indonesian nationals. In the statement, MUI asked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to help secure the release of the Indonesians held hostage by Zionist Israel. ‘Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, we, the leadership of the Indonesian Ulema Council, together with leaders of Islamic organisations and national philanthropic bodies, humbly request Mr. President Prabowo Subianto to immediately pursue the liberation of the nine Indonesian citizens held hostage by Zionist Israel and other hostages held by Zionist Israel,’ said MUI Chairman Ustaz Zaitun Rasmin, followed by other ulama and representatives of national philanthropic bodies at the MUI Central Office, Jakarta, on Thursday (21 May 2026).