JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said that nine Indonesian citizens (WNI) participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 humanitarian mission who were detained by Israel had arrived safely in Indonesia on Sunday (24/5).
"Our nine brothers arrived safely in their homeland. We from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thank you for the cooperation and coordination of all parties," said Sugiono at a press conference at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, as reported by Antara.
He said the success of the release and repatriation of Indonesian citizens was the result of intensive coordination by the Indonesian government.
"The success of this evacuation and liberation is the fruit of hard work and intensive coordination carried out by the Indonesian government in layers," he said.
According to Sugiono, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Directorate of Protection of Indonesian Citizens has optimized the diplomatic channel by involving five Indonesian representatives in strategic areas.
The five representatives are the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) Ankara, the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) Istanbul, the Indonesian Embassy in Amman, the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, and the Indonesian Embassy in Rome.
Sugiono also expressed his gratitude to the governments of Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt for helping the process of picking up the nine Indonesian citizens from Ashdod, Israel.
He emphasized that Indonesia strongly condemned the interception of the GSF ship in international waters as well as the inhumane treatment of volunteers during their detention by the Israeli military.
"Arbitrary actions that degrade the dignity of civilians in a humanitarian mission are a clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law," said Sugiono.
On the same occasion, the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Abdalfatah A.K. Al-Sattari called the nine Indonesian citizens as heroes.
He also expressed his gratitude for the support of the Indonesian government and people for Palestine.
"I would like to thank the President of the Republic of Indonesia and the government and the people of Indonesia," said Al-Sattari, adding that he believed Palestine would soon be free.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously conveyed that the GSF 2.0 humanitarian mission ship carrying nine Indonesian citizens was intercepted by the Israeli military around the waters of Cyprus, Eastern Mediterranean, on May 18, 2026.
The Indonesian citizens were then detained in the city of Ashdod, Israel.
After a series of diplomatic and consular steps taken by the Indonesian government together with various parties, including GSF and Global Peace Convoy Indonesia (GPCI), the nine Indonesian citizens were released on May 21, 2026.
They then underwent a health examination in Istanbul, Turkiye, before returning to Indonesia.
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