AJI Indonesia Condemns Israeli Detention of Indonesian Journalists Covering Humanitarian Mission to Gaza, Demands Immediate Release

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen/AJI) Indonesia strongly condemns the interception and detention by the Israeli military of Indonesian journalists who were on board the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 humanitarian mission to Gaza. The interception took place on Monday, 18 May 2026, in international waters near Cyprus, approximately 200 to 300 nautical miles from the Gaza coast - far outside any lawful jurisdiction of the State of Israel.

According to reports from media organizations and the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the journalists currently confirmed to have been detained or taken from the flotilla include:

• Bambang Noroyono - journalist, Republika (aboard the Boralize)
• Thoudy Badai - photojournalist, Republika, member of the Indonesian Press Photo Association (PFI) (aboard the Ozgurluk)
• Andre Prasetyo Nugroho - journalist,TV Tempo, member of The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) (aboard the Ozgurluk)
• Heru Rahendro - journalist, iNews (aboard the Ozgurluk)

The journalists were carrying out legitimate journalistic work - documenting and reporting on an international civilian humanitarian mission delivering aid to the people of Gaza, who continue to endure a catastrophic humanitarian crisis under Israel’s prolonged blockade and military operations. Their work serves the public interest, both in Indonesia and globally, and is protected under international law.

AJI Indonesia views the actions of the Israeli military as:

1. A grave violation of press freedom. Detaining journalists for performing their professional duties constitutes an attack on the public’s right to information, as guaranteed under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Israel is a state party.
2. A violation of international law. Boarding civilian vessels and detaining civilians, including credentialed journalists, in international waters is inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the protections afforded to journalists under the Fourth Geneva Convention and UN Security Council 2222 (2015) on the protection of journalists in armed conflict.
3. A continuation of a documented pattern. The Committee to Protect Journalists and other international press freedom bodies have recorded the killing of hundreds of journalists in Gaza since October 2023. The detention of journalists covering humanitarian missions is part of a broader effort to silence independent reporting on the situation in Gaza.

The distress messages and SOS videos transmitted by Bambang Noroyono and Andre Prasetyo Nugroho before contact was lost have raised serious concerns about their physical safety and well-being. Previous flotilla detainees have reported severe mistreatment in Israeli custody, including accounts described by international rights organizations as amounting to torture. AJI Indonesia regards any harm inflicted upon these journalists as the direct responsibility of the State of Israel.

AJI Indonesia therefore demands:

First, that the Government of Israel immediately and unconditionally release all detained Indonesian journalists along with all other detained humanitarian volunteers and journalists from the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0.

Second, that the Government of Israel provide full guarantees for the physical safety, health, and dignity of all detained journalists, grant them immediate consular access, legal representation, and communication with their families and employers, and refrain from any form of mistreatment, intimidation, or coercion.

Third, that the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, through President Prabowo Subianto,the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Indonesian diplomatic missions in Ankara, Cairo, Amman, and other relevant posts, take maximum diplomatic measures to secure the immediate release and safe repatriation of all Indonesian journalists and citizens detailed by Israeli forces.

Fourth, that the Government of Indonesia escalate this matter to international forums, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, UNESCO, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to seek accountability for Israel’s repeated violations against journalists and humanitarian workers.

Fifth, that all media houses, press freedom organizations, and members of the international press community stand in solidarity with the detained journalists and amplify their cases until their safe return.

Journalism is not a crime. Reporting on humanitarian missions is not a crime. Bearing witness to the suffering of the people of Gaza is not a crime. The detention of these journalists is an act of aggression against the press, and against the right of every citizen of the world to know the truth.

#FreeIndonesianJouranlists #FreeGSFJournalists #JournalismIsNotACrime

Contact:

AJI Indonesia Chairwoman: Nany Afrida

AJI Indonesia Secretary General: Bayu Wardhana

Hotline : 62 811-1137-820