Indonesia Strongly Condemns Israel's Attack on the Sumud Flotilla in Gaza

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono. (X: @Menlu_RI) 

JAKARTA - Indonesia and other countries strongly condemn Israel's attack on the Sumud Global Flotilla on April 30, 2026, a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at drawing the attention of the international community to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.

This was conveyed in a joint statement by the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, South Africa, and Spain regarding Israel's attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla uploaded on the official X account of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Jakarta, Thursday.

"Israel's attacks on the ships and the illegal detention of humanitarian activists in international waters are clear violations of international law and international humanitarian law," the statement quoted.

They expressed deep concern for the safety of the civil activists and urged the Israeli authorities to take the necessary steps to ensure their immediate release.

The ministers also called on the international community to fulfill their moral and legal obligations in upholding international law, protecting civilians, and ensuring accountability for such violations.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, Thameen Al-Kheetan, said in a statement on Wednesday (6/5), Israel must immediately and unconditionally release the members of the flotilla who were detained in international waters and brought to Israel.

According to him, efforts to show solidarity and bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza who are in dire need are not a crime.

"We call for an end to Israel's use of arbitrary detention and its broadly and vaguely defined terrorism laws, which are inconsistent with international human rights law," Al-Kheetan said.

He stated that Israel must also end the blockade of Gaza, and allow and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip, in sufficient quantities.

The Flotilla Sumud Global fleet departed Barcelona on April 15, and on April 30, Israeli forces seized the fleet's ships near the Greek island of Crete, damaging its engines and navigation systems, according to humanitarian activists.

The activists said Israeli forces boarded their boat and detained 180 activists, 178 of whom were later released.

Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish and Swedish citizen of Palestinian descent, and Thiago Avila, a Brazilian citizen, are still being held by Israel.

Israel said Saif and Thiago were suspected of "assisting the enemy during the war" and being members of a "terrorist organization."