About 14 hours from reaching Gaza, members of Dompet Dhuafa who were part of the Global Peace Convoy Indonesia (GPCI) were kidnapped by Israeli Zionists while carrying out a humanitarian mission for Palestine as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) 2.0 voyage in international Mediterranean waters on Tuesday (May 19, 2026).
Ronggo Wirasanu and Herman Budianto. Both are known for their patience, cheerfulness, and above all: GOOD FATHERS.
Among us, his colleagues, Ronggo Wirasanu is the most patient person. In his daily life, he is also quiet. But when he speaks, his witty remarks make us laugh heartily.
He always arrives at the office earlier than the rest of us. “Just dropping the kids off at school,” he’d reply if we asked. And every evening as Maghrib approached in the office, a video call with his son asking, “Dad, what time are you coming home?” became a regular part of our late-afternoon routine.
“Next week is my 8th birthday, and I’ll be taking the Juz 29 memorization test. But Dad has to go on a mission to Gaza,” said Hanan, Ronggo’s eldest son, after seeing his father off at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
Unfortunately, until the moment he was kidnapped, Ronggo hadn’t told any of his colleagues that his wife was pregnant with their second child. She was only two months along, as confirmed by a test taken exactly one week before his departure for Turkey.
The same goes for Herman Budianto. The sound of the post-Zuhr sermon blaring from the loudspeakers at the Cordofa Mosque was like a podcast playing in the background as we worked at the DDTV studio.
The stomping of feet on the asphalt and the shouts during silat practice just before Maghrib in the courtyard of the Cordofa Mosque also form our afternoon “playlist” twice a week. While joking around, he always challenges us to practice his moves.
For Ronggo and Herman, this humanitarian journey is not their first. Previously, Ronggo traveled to Egypt in 2023 to oversee and distribute humanitarian aid for Palestine, entrusted by the Indonesian public. Throughout his time at DDTV, Ronggo has also frequently ventured to remote corners of Indonesia, documenting the struggles of daily life within the social sector.
The same goes for Herman. He has been on a long journey with Dompet Dhuafa since 1999. He has experienced various fields and pillars of work, ranging from disaster response and economic empowerment to healthcare, and even leading the Hong Kong branch. However, what is deeply ingrained in him is that he is a figure who loves da’wah and culture.
They are heroes worth fighting for. No one deserves to be treated this way while carrying out a humanitarian mission. Dompet Dhuafa and various other parties are working to secure the release and protection of these humanitarian activists and ensure their safe return home. We eagerly await their happy return.
And in this holy month of Zulhijah, the sacrifice of these two is akin to that of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail for us. May Allah grant His pleasure, provision, and mercy for your safety. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text: Dhika
Photo: DDTV
Editor: Dedi Fadlil