JAKARTA – More than 24 hours after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian mission ship, the fate of several Indonesian volunteers from the Global Peace Convoy Indonesia (GPCI) remains uncertain.
In a press conference on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, GPCI expressed serious concerns over the safety of the Indonesian volunteers detained by the Israeli military. GPCI Director, Ahmad Juwaini, stated that they have been unable to communicate with the detained volunteers. He fears that the volunteers are at risk of violence if immediate action is not taken, as has been the case with previous detentions of volunteers on similar humanitarian missions.
This situation is even more pressing because among the detained volunteers are Indonesian citizens, humanitarian activists, and journalists. They are not combatants. They are not carrying weapons. They are on a civilian mission to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Staff Office, in a press conference on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, stated that the Indonesian government has taken a number of coordinating steps. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reportedly coordinated with the Indonesian Embassies in Ankara, Cairo, Rome, Amman, and the Indonesian Consulate General in Istanbul. The government is also preparing anticipatory measures, including issuing a Travel Document in Lieu of a Passport (SPLP) if Indonesian citizens’ passports are confiscated, as well as providing medical assistance if needed.
Indonesia has also reportedly joined nine other countries in strongly condemning Israel’s actions against the humanitarian volunteers. Meanwhile, the GPCI (Indonesian Consultative Assembly) has met with the leadership of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) to report the detention of nine Indonesian citizens on a mission to Gaza.
Responding to the situation, Bachtiar Nasir stated that the government’s steps so far are important, but should not be considered sufficient.
“Coordination with Indonesian representatives in various countries is a procedurally correct step. Preparing the SPLP and medical assistance is also important. However, when communication with volunteers is cut off and the risk of violence increases, procedural diplomacy must immediately escalate to crisis diplomacy,” said Bachtiar Nasir in Jakarta.
According to Bachtiar, the safety of Indonesian citizens cannot wait for normal bureaucratic rhythms. If more than 24 hours have passed without any certainty, and the GPCI is unable to communicate with the volunteers, the state must treat the situation as a citizen protection emergency.
“Every hour of delay increases the physical, psychological, and political risks to the volunteers. The state must be present quickly, decisively, and maximally,” he stressed.
Bachtiar believes Indonesia needs to activate multi-layered diplomatic pressure. Consular channels alone are not sufficient; the government needs to open high-level political channels, starting with the President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Indonesian representatives in related countries, international organizations, participating countries, and even countries with direct influence over Israel.
“If Israel only listens to pressure from the United States, then the suggestion that President Prabowo lobby President Trump needs to be seriously considered. This is not about symbolic politics. This is about the lives of Indonesian citizens and the honor of Indonesian diplomacy,” he said.
Bachtiar also emphasized that the GPCI mission must continue to be clearly narrated as a legal humanitarian mission. The volunteers are not part of a military operation, do not carry weapons, and are not a security threat.
“This narrative is crucial. If it isn’t consistently emphasized, Israel could frame these detentions as a security issue. In fact, the people facing these detentions are civilians, humanitarian volunteers, and journalists,” Bachtiar said.
He believes Indonesia must learn from previous experience. When Indonesian citizens find themselves in an international conflict zone, the country must not be slow to detect escalations. Moreover, Indonesia has taken a position within the framework of international peacekeeping. Therefore, protecting Indonesian citizens carrying out humanitarian missions must be a real test of Indonesian diplomacy.
Bachtiar Nasir urged the government to take three emergency steps.
First, establish a cross-ministerial crisis center that provides regular updates to the public. Second, demand direct consular access to all detained Indonesian citizens. Third, exert open diplomatic pressure on parties with influence over Israel for immediate and unconditional release.
“More than 24 hours is too long for families waiting for news. It’s too long for volunteers whose fate is uncertain. And it’s too long for the country to simply engage in conventional diplomacy,” Bachtiar said.
He also called for Indonesia to mobilize broader international public pressure. According to him, if nine countries have condemned Israel’s actions, then that pressure must be expanded into a collective diplomatic movement.
“The humanitarian mission “National humanitarian aid in international waters must not be criminalized. If today humanitarian volunteers can be detained without serious consequences, then tomorrow civilian aid to Gaza will be even more easily silenced,” he stressed.
Bachtiar concluded his statement by calling on the Indonesian government to act faster, more forcefully, and more decisively.
“Indonesia has taken initial steps. But this situation demands more than mere coordination. What is needed now is emergency diplomacy, high-level pressure, and maximum protection for every detained Indonesian citizen. A single Indonesian life is too precious to wait for slow diplomatic action. And humanitarian missions must not be rewarded with violence, torture, or loss of life,” concluded Bachtiar Nasir.
