Journalist Reported Abducted by Israeli Forces While En Route to Gaza

The interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) humanitarian mission by the Israeli military in the Mediterranean Sea has ignited widespread condemnation from various parties across Indonesia. Reports indicate that several Indonesian journalists and activists participating in the voyage to Gaza were detained after their vessels were intercepted in international waters.

The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), alongside numerous prominent figures and press organizations, has urgently called on Israel to immediately release these volunteers and journalists. As of Tuesday, May 19, the number of Indonesian citizens (WNI) suspected of being detained had reportedly increased to nine, comprising journalists and humanitarian activists.

News of the interception broke on Monday, May 18, detailing how Global Sumud Flotilla vessels, on a humanitarian mission to Gaza, were halted by the Israeli military in the Mediterranean. Among those allegedly apprehended were nine Indonesian nationals. The following is a list of those believed to be detained by Israel, based on information provided by Harfin Naqsyabandi, Media Coordinator for the Global Peace Convoy Indonesia (GPCI):

• Thoudy Badai (Journalist, Republika) – on the vessel Ozgurluk

• Rahendro Herubowo (previously listed as an iNews journalist, though iNews Editor-in-Chief Aiman Witjaksono stated Rahendro resigned from iNews in August 2022) – on the vessel Ozgurluk

• Bambang Noroyono (Journalist, Republika) – on the vessel Boralize

• Andre Prasetyo Nugroho (Journalist, TV Tempo) – on the vessel Ozgurluk

• Andi Angga (Activist) – on the vessel Josef

• Herman Budiyanto Sudarsono (Activist) – on the vessel Zafiro

• Ronggo Wirasano (Activist) – on the vessel Zafiro

• Asad Aras Muhammad (GPCI) – on the vessel Kasr-1 Sadabat

• Hendro Prasetyo (GPCI) – on the vessel Kasr-1 Sadabat

Indonesia’s Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Chief, Dudung Abdurachman, affirmed Indonesia’s firm demand for Israel to release all volunteers involved in the “Global Sumud Flotilla” peace mission who have been detained. Initially, five Indonesians were reported among those allegedly abducted within the convoy.

“The Indonesian government urges Israel to immediately release all detained ships and crew members of the international humanitarian mission, and to ensure the continued delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in accordance with international humanitarian law,” Dudung stated at the KSP office in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 19.

He further elaborated that Indonesian representatives are actively engaging with local authorities to ensure unimpeded transit and the smooth repatriation process for the detained Indonesian citizens. Simultaneously, Indonesian diplomatic teams remain on high alert, prepared to respond swiftly to any new developments. Indonesia has also joined a coalition of nine other nations—namely Turkey, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, Pakistan, and Spain—in issuing a joint statement that vehemently condemns the Israeli actions against the GSF.

Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) reported on Tuesday, May 19, that Israel had intercepted 41 humanitarian aid vessels en route to Gaza, Palestine, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Despite the widespread interception, organizers confirmed that 10 ships continued their journey towards Gaza, with the vessel Sirius reportedly positioned approximately 145 nautical miles from the territory. The GSF mission comprised 54 vessels carrying 426 participants from 39 countries, having departed from southern Turkey on Thursday, May 15, in what marked their third attempt to deliver aid to Gaza. Previously, two similar efforts had also been intercepted by Israel in international waters. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its part, has maintained that it will not permit the aid flotilla to breach the naval blockade on Gaza.

Journalist Andre Prasetyo Nugroho of Tempo Magazine is also believed to have been detained by Israeli forces when his ship, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) peace mission, was intercepted in international waters approximately 250 miles from Gaza on Monday, May 18. This news was shared via the @tvtempochannel Instagram account. “Tempo journalist, Andre Prasetyo Nugroho, participated in this Global Sumud Flotilla mission. Andre was on the Ozgurluk vessel along with two other journalists, which has been confirmed to have been intercepted by the Israeli military,” the Instagram account stated (May 19, 2026).

Prior to his voyage, Andre had sent an SOS video message as part of the mission’s protocol. Currently, Tempo states they have lost contact with Andre and are unaware of his precise location. “The last update is that we lost contact with Andre. We will prepare an official statement from Tempo,” said Jajang Jamaludin, Corporate Secretary of PT Tempo, when contacted by Kumparan on Tuesday, May 19.

The journey of the humanitarian ships comprising the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) once again faced obstacles, with two GSF vessels, the Borales and Ozgurluk, being intercepted. “From around three to four in the morning, both Abeng and Ody said, ‘Okay, we are in free waters, in international waters.’ So, the international Global Sumud Flotilla team said that once in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, there was a high probability that Israeli ships could intercept them more quickly,” explained Stevy Maradona, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Republika, on Monday, May 18.

Republika subsequently monitored the whereabouts of its journalists’ vessels. Around 11:00 AM WIB, the ship carrying Abeng issued a warning about a warship passing nearby. Upon learning of this development, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) promptly released an official statement condemning the act. “On behalf of MUI, I want to emphasize that Israel’s action of obstructing humanitarian efforts through the Sumud Flotilla, including the detention of Republika journalists participating in this mission, is a shameful act,” stated Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, Chairman of MUI’s Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Division.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) of the Republic of Indonesia has vehemently condemned the Israeli military’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) humanitarian mission convoy in the waters near Cyprus, in the Eastern Mediterranean. This convoy included several Indonesian nationals: two Republika journalists, Bambang Noroyono (Abeng) and Thoudy Badai (Ody), as well as Andi Angga Prasadewa, a representative from Rumah Zakat. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the actions of the Israeli Military, which intercepted several ships belonging to the international humanitarian mission convoy, Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0, in the waters around Cyprus, Eastern Mediterranean,” stated Kemlu Spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang in her official remarks on Monday, May 18.

Kemlu reported that ten vessels were seized, including the Amanda, Barbaros, Josef, and Blue Toys. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia urges Israel to immediately release all detained ships and crew members of the international humanitarian mission, and to ensure the continued delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in accordance with international humanitarian law,” Yvonne reiterated.

Head of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Dudung Abdurachman, revealed that four Indonesian GSF volunteers managed to evade interception by Israeli forces. These individuals are currently in the Eastern Mediterranean, and their situation remains precarious. “Four other Indonesian citizens are still on different ships in the waters around Cyprus or the Eastern Mediterranean,” Dudung stated at his office on Tuesday, May 19. The situation on the ground continues to be highly dynamic, and the four Indonesian citizens still at sea remain in a vulnerable state. “Indonesia has also joined nine other countries—namely Turkey, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, Pakistan, and Spain—in a joint statement strongly condemning Israel’s attack on the GSF,” he added.

The Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi), Meutya Hafid, has strongly condemned the Israeli military’s actions in intercepting and detaining the international humanitarian mission convoy of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) in the Eastern Mediterranean waters en route to Gaza. The convoy included several Indonesian journalists, specifically Bambang Noroyono (Abeng) and Thoudy Badai (Ody) from Republika, Andre Prasetyo Nugroho from Tempo, and Rahendro Herubowo from iNews. “We are following with deep concern the news regarding Indonesian journalists who are carrying out their reporting duties on a humanitarian mission to Gaza. Amidst conflict situations, the safety of media personnel must always be our collective concern,” stated Menkomdigi Meutya Hafid in Jakarta on Monday, May 18.

Meutya affirmed the ministry’s support for the diplomatic efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the protection and safety of all Indonesian citizens within the convoy. The Ministry of Communication and Digital will continue to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant parties to monitor developments and support protective measures for Indonesian citizens involved in the mission. “Our prayers and hopes are with all journalists and humanitarian volunteers for their continued safety,” Meutya concluded.

Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR), Sukamta, condemned Israel’s actions, which reportedly involved the apprehension of approximately 100 activists participating in the humanitarian mission to the Gaza Strip, including two Republika journalists, Bambang Noroyono (Abeng) and Thoudy Badai (Ody). He urged the Indonesian government to more assertively press the UN Security Council and the United States to facilitate the release of these activists and journalists. “I condemn this act by Israel. I support the Indonesian government in urging the UN Security Council and the US to lobby Israel for the release of these activists and Republika journalists,” Sukamta stated in his remarks on Monday, May 18.

Sukamta emphasized that the arrests of the activists and journalists occurred after Israel intercepted the humanitarian aid flotilla heading to Gaza in international waters. He argued that such actions run contrary to the efforts of various parties striving for peace in the Middle East.