JAKARTA —-— Dozens of prospective participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) from Indonesia—both in person and online—attended the “GSF 2.0 Safety and Security Briefing” at the Sasana Budaya Hall in the Philanthropy Building, Jakarta, on Wednesday (April 8, 2025). This briefing covered technical details regarding the main mission of the GSF initiative and the travel authorization documents, as well as their legal implications.
In his opening remarks, Ahmad Juwaini, Chairman of the Dompet Dhuafa Board of Directors, expressed his delight at the growing enthusiasm for supporting the Palestinian people’s struggle, including through the GSF movement.
“In recent years, we have all witnessed a growing wave of concern for Palestine. However, I believe that in Indonesia, not all Muslims fully understand or accept the underlying rationale behind the GSF campaign. Therefore, this initiative still needs to be continuously promoted to garner broader support and overcome challenges,” explained Ahmad, who also witnessed the GSF’s departure for Tunisia in 2025.
In reality, the Indonesian GSF team faces many challenges, one of which is that support has not yet reached the desired level. The Palestinian struggle needs to be addressed in various ways. As long as it is possible to do so, it must be done. One form of this struggle is through the GSF. We need to organize these various conditions so that the resulting impact becomes stronger and more significant.
“On several occasions, I have mentioned that in Indonesia, the struggles for Palestine are still mostly carried out by Muslims; therefore, if this is a universal humanitarian struggle, this support must come from all sectors of society. We must continue to expand its reach. GSF is not about seeking danger; rather, by design, it is a safe activity. The ultimate goal is to support and accelerate Palestinian independence,” emphasized Ahmad.
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In presenting his brief, Fadli Ramadhanil, a lawyer with Themis Indonesia, offered an introduction noting that, in the context of the departure, this journey embodies goodness, brings greater benefits, and aims to improve conditions once the journey is complete.
GSF’s primary mission is to break the Gaza blockade, open humanitarian aid corridors, support reconstruction efforts, confront those involved in genocide, and spark popular action.
“One of the trip’s objectives is to gather evidence as testimony—including recordings, audio, photos, videos, documents, and other clues. However, ensure they are collected safely, stored securely, and can be utilized upon return. This is an effort to support the testimony,” said Fadli.
Fadli also outlined the risk factors, including:
- Issues with departure documents,
- Items being carried,
- Obstacles from military forces in other countries,
- Health issues,
- Actions taken that may be viewed as problematic by the destination country.
“Legal document preparation must be clear, and safety is the top priority—not to confront weapons. The importance of legal advocates on this journey is to prevent or take a series of steps for the legal interests of every participant. We are building a communication network with embassies and international organizations in several countries, and mapping out legal strategies for every potential legal issue. Some legal representatives will not be traveling, while others will accompany the team,” explained Fadli.
Arif RH, Chair of the GSF 2.0 Coordination Team at Dompet Dhuafa, stated that the initiative will indeed cover several regions across the country. However, for the past few months, the legal team has been communicating and coordinating with the GSF network of lawyers as a precaution in case of any incidents.
“This middle briefing is intended for risk mitigation. Although we are still awaiting confirmation of the departure, we are hopeful that it will proceed. “We remind everyone that if selected and departing, please continue to communicate with the organizing committee. We are also coordinating with Indonesian embassies in several countries, such as Jordan and Egypt, in case of, for example, an arrest. This is based on the experience of our Malaysian colleagues who had their case transferred to Jordan,” said Arif.
A deeper perspective was shared by the speaker, Prof. Heru. He outlined the vision as a means of solidarity and accountability, demanding accountability from all involved actors across all jurisdictions, utilizing every legal action to serve the liberation of Palestine; every action becoming an agent of accountability; and every case building lasting justice.
“Intend this for Palestine, not about whether we can go there. The GSF serves as one of the world’s eye-openers that what the Zionists are doing is wrong. As volunteers, we must act as witnesses, serve as catalysts for action, center Palestine as the primary issue, and stand in solidarity with Palestine,” he explained.
He also elaborated on why use the law for Palestine? Legal action can serve as a catalyst for other impacts: exposing state complicity, applying pressure on involved actors, and preventing further violations.
Heru also cited the successful example of national legal actions in Turkey in 2025, where political pressure from the flotilla led the public prosecutor to issue arrest warrants for 37 Israeli officials on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
We must continue to voice and support our spirit of solidarity with Palestine. Share your support and help the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 solidarity effort by strengthening hope and standing with the Palestinian struggle. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Dhika
Editor: Dedi Fadlil