JAKARTA —-— Ahmad Juwaini, Chairman of the Board of Dompet Dhuafa, attended the 78th Nakba Day commemoration hosted by the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event, which took place on Monday (May 18, 2026) starting at 2:00 p.m. WIB, was a solemn occasion attended by representatives from various sectors of society. The venue was bustling with Palestinian humanitarian activists and leaders of national humanitarian organizations.
The event began with a series of opening remarks, including addresses by the CEO of Zeekend and Indonesian humanitarian activist for Palestine, Abdillah Onim (Bang Onim). The highlight of the event was a speech delivered by the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Abdalfatah A.K. Alsattari. In his speech, Ambassador Abdalfatah expressed his deep appreciation to Indonesia as a country that has always stood by and supported the struggle of the Palestinian people.
“Our message today on Nakba Day—a day we commemorate every year because we cannot forget the day Israel began occupying our land in 1948. They killed and injured thousands of our people, then drove them out of their homeland,” said Abdalfatah.
He also added that such atrocities continue to this day.
“They (Israeli Zionists) have killed thousands of our people and injured more than hundreds of thousands of our people, and they have stolen our land and built illegal settlements,” he continued.
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At the same time as the commemoration was taking place in Jakarta, tensions were reportedly rising in international waters. The latest reports indicate that the ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 humanitarian fleet, which is continuing its humanitarian mission to break the blockade and reach Gaza in the Mediterranean Sea, have begun to be approached by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). The fleet also includes a humanitarian delegation from Indonesia.
As is known, dozens of ships from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), carrying 450 humanitarian delegates from various countries, began their humanitarian voyage from the Port of Marmaris, Türkiye, last Thursday (May 14, 2026) to deliver medical and food aid directly to Gaza, Palestine.
In response to the current situation, Ahmad Juwaini, Chairman of the Board of Dompet Dhuafa, issued a strong statement. Dompet Dhuafa’s presence at the Nakba Day commemoration in Jakarta symbolizes that the Indonesian people’s solidarity will never be deterred by any form of intimidation.
“For Dompet Dhuafa, the Palestinian issue is not merely a fleeting concern, but a deep humanitarian commitment. We will continue to stand with the Palestinian people, both through advocacy on the global stage and the delivery of tangible aid on the ground,” said Ahmad Juwaini.
He also offered moral support to the delegates, including the Indonesian representatives aboard the GSF 2.0 ship.
“Today’s Nakba Day commemoration, which coincides with the IOF’s blockade of the Global Sumud Flotilla in the Mediterranean, reminds us all that the struggle for justice and Palestinian independence is a genuine humanitarian mission. We must support this movement together until the end,” he emphasized.
Read also: Calls for ‘Free Palestine’ Echo Across the Waves of Marmaris, Ready to Break the Gaza Blockade
As a form of historical reflection, the commemoration at the Palestinian Embassy also featured readings of humanitarian poetry and a screening of a short film titled Nakba. The event concluded with a moment of silence and a joint prayer for the safety of the global humanitarian delegation at sea, as well as for the independence of the Palestinian people.
As the GSF 2.0 mission progresses, the public can track the fleet’s journey in real-time via the Flotilla Tracker. Public support is also hoped to continue flowing as a form of humanitarian solidarity for Palestine. As a manifestation of this concern, humanitarian donations can be made through digital.dompetdhuafa.org/donasi/kapalkemanusiaangaza, to support the continuation of aid for the Palestinian people. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Dhika
Editor: Dedi Fadlil