RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Press Council has condemned the Israeli military’s interception of an international humanitarian flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, which included three Indonesian journalists among the detained civilians.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the council said the Israeli Navy intercepted and arrested the crew of the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 on Monday, May 18, while the convoy was sailing in international waters near Gaza.

The flotilla, organized by an international civil society coalition, departed from Marmaris, Türkiye, on May 14 with 54 vessels and crew members from around 70 countries carrying food and medical supplies for Palestinians in Gaza.

According to the statement, the vessels were around 310 nautical miles from Gaza when intercepted by Israeli forces.

Among the nine Indonesian citizens participating in the mission under the Global Peace Convoy Indonesia (GPCI) were three journalists: Bambang Noroyono and Thoudy Badai Rifan Billah from Republika, and Andre Prasetyo Nugroho from Tempo TV.

The Press Council said it had communicated with the editors-in-chief of Republika and Tempo TV to verify developments regarding the incident. Both media organizations confirmed the arrest of their journalists on Monday evening Jakarta time.

Responding to the incident, the council strongly condemned what it described as the Israeli military’s interception and arrest of Indonesian journalists and other civilians in international waters while en route to Gaza.

The Press Council also called on the Indonesian government to use diplomatic channels to secure the release of the detained journalists and other Indonesian civilians, including facilitating their return to Indonesia. ***