TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Two Indonesian citizens, Herman Budianto and Ronggo Wirsanu, recounted their experiences being chased by Israeli soldiers while sailing the Mediterranean Sea towards Gaza, Palestine. Both were volunteers on the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying out a humanitarian mission for Palestinian independence and peace.
Global Peace Convoy Indonesia received news of an attempted interception by Israeli soldiers of ships carrying hundreds of volunteers for this humanitarian mission on Monday afternoon, May 18, 2026. This included several ships carrying Indonesian delegates on the Global Sumud Flotilla mission.
Herman Budianto and Ronggo Wirsanu were aboard the Zefiro ship. As of Monday, May 18, 2026 at 9:20 PM, the ship carrying them was still sailing and had not been intercepted by the Israeli military.
Herman described seeing two warships suspected to be from the Israeli military approaching the ship he was on. He stated, "These warships lowered small boats and moved towards us, chasing our ships," during a virtual press conference on Monday, May 18, 2026.
He mentioned that the captain and crew of his ship were experienced, enabling them to maneuver and evade the pursuit of the Israeli military amid fluctuating sea conditions. Herman felt thankful for being free from the pursuit by the Israeli military.
The Zefiro ship, carrying the two Indonesian delegates, remains committed to continuing the voyage to Gaza to fulfill the humanitarian mission for the Palestinian people. Ronggo Wirsanu, an Indonesian humanitarian activist on the same ship, stated that they remained vigilant against potential further pursuit by the Israeli military. "We remain vigilant and have established shifts to monitor and guard the situation," he said.
In addition to Herman and Ronggo, there are seven Indonesian citizens participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla. From this list, five individuals have now been kidnapped by the Israeli military.
On the Bolarize ship, Republika journalist Bambang Noroyono, along with two Malaysian citizens, have been reported as being detained by the Israeli military. On another ship, Ozgurluk, three Indonesian citizens have been abducted by the Israeli military during the humanitarian mission to Gaza, Palestine.
They include Tempo TV journalist Andre Prasetyo, Republika journalist Thoudy Badai, and iNews journalist Heru Rahendro. Another Indonesian citizen, Andi Angga, has also been kidnapped by the Israeli military during the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian voyage. Andi Angga, a humanitarian activist, departed with the group on the Josef ship.
Meanwhile, two Indonesian citizens remain aboard ships as of Monday night. They are Asad Aras and Hendro Prasetyo on the Kasri Sadabad ship. Then there are Herman Budianto and Ronggo Wirsanu still sailing on the Zefiro ship.
This information was confirmed by the Media Coordinator of Global Peace Convoy Indonesia, Harfin Naqsyabandy. "Five delegates (from Indonesia) have been kidnapped, while four are still sailing," he said at the Dompet Dhuafa building in Jakarta on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Read: TV Tempo Journalist Sends SOS After Israeli Interception
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