TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that nine Indonesian citizens who were held captive by Israel while participating in a humanitarian mission to Gaza have been released. The volunteers of Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday night, May 21, 2026, before being repatriated.
"Alhamdulillah, 9 Indonesian citizens have landed in Istanbul," said the Director of Indonesian Citizen Protection at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heni Hamidah, as quoted by Antara on Thursday night, April 21, 2026.
In Istanbul, Heni stated that the volunteers would undergo several procedures, including health screenings. The government has not yet determined when they will be flown back to Indonesia. Heni mentioned that they would be repatriated as soon as all the processes are completed. "They will definitely be repatriated as soon as the process is completed," said Heni.
The Israeli military's capture operation of the Global Sumud Flotilla convoy occurred on Monday, May 18, 2026. They were besieged while in the waters of Cyprus, the Mediterranean Sea, en route to Gaza, Palestine, to break the Israeli blockade. A total of 450 volunteers were abducted in that operation.
The Media Coordinator for Global Peace Convoy Indonesia (GPCI), the organization overseeing the GSF mission, Harfin Naqsyabandy, confirmed that the entire delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) had been released from Israeli military detention on Thursday, May 21, 2026. This also includes the nine Indonesian citizens who were previously detained at Ktziot Prison, Israel.
However, Harfin emphasized that the situation is still dynamic. The process of repatriating the activists is said to be continuously monitored through legal, diplomatic, and international support networks for the Flotilla. "We continue to monitor so that the entire delegation, including the Indonesian citizens, can arrive safely and in good health," said Harfin.
During their detention, several delegates reported to GPCI that they had experienced violence and inhumane treatment. Reported forms of mistreatment included beatings, the use of taser guns and rubber bullets, insults, harassment, and forced painful body positions.
Read: Abduction or Detention: What Is Indonesia's Stance on Flotilla Capture by Israel?
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