Jakarta – The Aqsa Working Group (AWG) strongly condemns the actions of the Israeli Zionist army in intercepting, attacking, and arresting the humanitarian activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including Indonesian journalists who were carrying out journalistic duties and a humanitarian mission heading to Gaza.
The brutal actions of the Zionist army constitute a clear violation of international law, press freedom, and universal humanitarian principles.
The arrests were carried out in international waters, outside the legal jurisdiction of the Israeli Zionists. Therefore, the interception and detention of civilian ships and the activists aboard are illegal acts, a form of piracy against a humanitarian mission, and a serious violation of international maritime law.
The journalists participating in the humanitarian mission are civilians protected by international humanitarian law and various international conventions concerning the duties of journalists.
Even in situations of armed conflict, journalists have the right to protection and must not be targeted with intimidation, arrest, or violence while carrying out their journalistic duties.
The arrest of humanitarian activists, including Indonesian journalists, represents a serious threat to press freedom and the right of the global community to obtain information about the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza.
The Global Sumud Flotilla itself was carrying out a peaceful and humanitarian mission to deliver aid and demonstrate global solidarity with the Palestinian people, who continue to be victims of the blockade, genocide, and occupation by the Israeli Zionists.
The activists and journalists came not bringing threats, but bringing humanitarian aid, solidarity, and the voice of the world’s conscience. Their arrest shows the fear of the Israeli Zionists regarding the growing international support for the struggle of the Palestinian people.
AWG considers this action to once again reveal the nature of the Israeli Zionists as a colonial and apartheid regime that continues to ignore international law, terrorize civilians, and silence humanitarian voices from around the world.
The repeated violations by the Israeli Zionists, while various parties are working hard to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, further prove that the Board of Peace (BoP) is an absurd council formed precisely to make the Zionists even more brutal. It is not for the purpose of Palestinian independence and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Regarding this incident, AWG also states that the arrests are illegal because they were carried out in international waters and contradict international maritime law and the principle of freedom of navigation.
AWG also emphasizes that journalists are civilians protected by international law and must not be targeted with intimidation, detention, or violence while carrying out their journalistic duties.
The Israeli Zionists must immediately and unconditionally release all detained activists and journalists.
AWG also urges the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to take firm and concrete diplomatic steps to protect Indonesian citizens and bring this case to international forums.
These diplomatic steps include immediately withdrawing from membership in the BoP as a strong protest against the illegal attack and arrests.
AWG further urges the United Nations (UN), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and all international human rights institutions to prosecute the Israeli Zionists for violations of international law and crimes against humanity that they continue to commit against the Palestinian people and international solidarity activists.
AWG also demands that countries supporting the Israeli Zionists, particularly the United States, share responsibility for the various repressive actions and human rights violations committed by Israel against civilians, journalists, and humanitarian volunteers.
The humanitarian organization, concerned with the liberation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestinian independence, then calls on Muslims and all Indonesian people to continue strengthening solidarity, prayers, and moral support, as well as tangible assistance for the struggle of the Palestinian people and the liberation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It is emphasized that the intimidation and arrest of humanitarian activists will not stop the struggle to defend Palestine. On the contrary, these actions increasingly reveal to the world the true face of the Israeli Zionists as occupiers who live on oppression and violence.
