Jakarta – The Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) has strongly condemned the Israeli military’s arrest of four Indonesian journalists and one humanitarian activist. The incident occurred on Monday, May 18, 2026, during the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean Sea en route to Gaza, Palestine.
IJTI Chairman Herik Kurniawan described the arrests as a serious act of intimidation and a grave violation of press freedom.
“Arresting journalists who are carrying out their professional duties is an action that harms press freedom and the public’s right to information,” Herik said in IJTI’s official statement.
The four journalists were covering the delivery of food and medical aid to civilians in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict. According to reports, they were detained by the Israeli Navy in international waters along with the humanitarian activist.
IJTI views the Israeli military’s action as arrogant and brutal. The organization believes it violates international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions which protect journalists in conflict zones, as well as the principles of freedom of expression.
“Journalists are not targets of violence and must not be criminalized while performing their journalistic duties or humanitarian missions,” the statement emphasized.
IJTI’s Demands
In response, IJTI urged the Israeli government and military to immediately and unconditionally release the detained journalists and activist in safe condition.
The association also called on the Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to undertake high-level diplomatic efforts and international actions to secure their safety and release.
IJTI further encouraged the media companies employing the journalists to provide legal assistance, international advocacy, and cross-institutional coordination. The organization also invited national and international press associations, human rights groups, and the global community to jointly pressure Israel to respect press freedom and the protection of journalists.
As of the publication of this article, there has been no official confirmation from the Israeli side regarding the detainees’ current status. The Indonesian public and media community continue to monitor developments closely, hoping for swift government intervention to protect Indonesian citizens performing journalistic and humanitarian work abroad.
This case once again highlights the high risks faced by journalists covering conflict zones and underscores the importance of international protection for media workers.
