TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Israeli Navy's hostage-taking operation against the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 humanitarian mission, which began on Monday, May 18, 2026, continues to develop. The Israeli military continues to conduct massive arrests of the international civil society coalition activists attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, Palestine.
As of yesterday, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that five Indonesian citizens (WNI) were arrested in the raid. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the action of the Israeli military intercepting several ships and capturing Indonesian WNI volunteers," said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang in a video statement on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Until today, various efforts to free the volunteers taken hostage by the Israeli military while sailing to open the logistical route for Gaza continue. Here are several recent developments until Wednesday morning, May 20, 2026:
The Identities of the Arrested Indonesian Citizens
Yvonne stated that a total of nine Indonesian citizens were involved in the Global Peace Convoy Indonesia on this humanitarian mission to Palestine. Five of them were arrested by the Israeli military in the waters of Cyprus, while four Indonesian citizens sailing on two different ships are still around the waters of Cyprus.
The five Indonesians detained by the Israeli military were on the Bolarize, Ozgurluk, and Josef ships. On the Bolarize ship, there was Republika journalist Bambang Noroyono. Meanwhile, on the Ozgurluk ship, there were three Indonesian citizens, namely Tempo journalist Andre Prasetyo, Republika photographer Thoudy Badai, and Rahendro Herubowo. The other person is a humanitarian activist named Andi Angga on the Josef ship.
In addition, Yvonne mentioned that the situation in the field is still very dynamic, so the four Indonesian citizens are still in a vulnerable condition and could be intercepted by the Israeli military at any time.
Indonesia Builds Communication with 9 Countries
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Indonesia has also joined nine countries, namely Turkey, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, Pakistan, and Spain in a joint statement condemning Israel's attack on GSF.
Yvonne said Indonesia will continue to communicate with these countries to take various efforts to promptly free the volunteers detained by Israel. "Indonesian representatives are always on standby to promptly follow up on notifications from local authorities," said Yvonne.
GPCI Contacts Several Countries
As the organizer of this humanitarian mission, Global Peace Convoy Indonesia stated that it has taken various diplomatic steps and international legal assistance. GPCI met with the MPR on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, to consolidate liberation efforts.
In addition to domestic efforts, GPCI contacted Indonesian diplomatic representatives in several countries expected to be the route for repatriating the Indonesian citizens. "We contacted the Indonesian Embassy in Jordan, the Indonesian Embassy in Egypt, and KJRI in Istanbul," said GPCI Director Ahmad Juwaini at the parliament complex, Jakarta, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
He mentioned that these three countries are expected to be places of transit or repatriation for the Indonesian citizens if they are released by Israel. Therefore, coordination is carried out so that Indonesian representatives in these countries can receive the Indonesian citizens properly.
Engaging International Lawyers
GPCI also engaged an international group of lawyers to assist in the advocacy process. Ahmad stated that this group has experience in handling protection for activists and defenders of Palestine. "These lawyers will directly contact Israel and the Israeli army to release and assist these Indonesian citizens," he said.
MPR Asks Prabowo to Lobby Trump
Deputy Chairperson of the MPR Hidayat Nur Wahid asked President Prabowo Subianto to utilize his good relationship with US President Donald Trump to help free the five Indonesian citizens detained by Israel in the humanitarian mission to Gaza.
According to Hidayat, Trump's closeness with Israel can be an effective diplomatic channel amidst the absence of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Israel. He believes that the personal relationship between Prabowo and Trump needs to be utilized by the government to pressure Israel for the prompt release of the Indonesian citizens.
"Mr. Prabowo has been praised extraordinarily by Donald Trump. I think this is a good momentum for Mr. Prabowo to convey to Trump, if indeed sincere with the praise, now is the time to prove that BOP is indeed to bring peace," said Hidayat at the parliament complex, Jakarta, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Eka Yudha Saputra and Dani Aswara contributed to the writing of this article.
Read: Indonesia Urges Israel to Release All Global Sumud Flotilla Crew
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/5485282/original/038819000_1769501489-pikojerico-175__1_.jpg.jpeg)
