UN Urges Israel to Protect Gaza Flotilla Activists, Remove Aid Restrictions

RRI.CO.ID, New York City - The United Nations has spoken out regarding Israel’s interception and detention of a group of humanitarian activists and journalists aboard a ship heading to the Gaza Strip, Palestine, as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 mission last Monday. The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, expressed the UN’s concern over Israel’s actions and emphasized the safety of everyone on board the vessel.

"We're concerned about the situation. We're very concerned about the safety of all those on board, they need to be protected and they need to be kept safe. International law on the high seas needs to be respected," Dujarric said in a daily briefing in New York City, United States, on Wednesday, May 19, 2026.

However, Dujarric stressed that official channels remain "the best way" to deliver humanitarian aid. To allow greater assistance to enter Gaza, he urged Israel to remove barriers and restrictions that are preventing larger and more sustained humanitarian aid from getting through.

"I mean, notably, we keep talking about... spare parts for generators (and) pumping stations, (as well as) heavy equipment to deal with the literal mountains of solid waste that are accumulating in Gaza," Dujarric said.

"The material that needs to be brought in to rebuild shelter, durable at scale (is important) so we don't have to reuse wood and metal that has been used in pallets," he continued.

The Israeli military earlier intercepted and detained all activists and journalists involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 mission, including nine Indonesian citizens. Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono, along with the foreign ministers of nine other countries on Thursday, recall "with grave concern" the Israeli interventions and "condemn the continuation of hostile acts" targeting civilian vessels and humanitarian activists.

"Such assaults, including attacks against the vessels and the arbitrary detention of activists, constitute blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law," the joint statement said.