Foreign Ministry summons Israel’s chargé d’affaires “urgently” to condemn the detention of Spaniards from the flotilla

Eduardo González The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urgently summoned the Israeli chargé d'affaires in Madrid, Dana Erlich, to convey its strongest condemnation of the detention of some 30 Spaniards during the raid carried out early this morning against the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters south of Greece and about 1,000 kilometers from the coasts of the Gaza Strip and Israel. According to sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "the chargé d'affaires of the Israeli embassy in Spain has been urgently summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey its strongest condemnation of the detention of the flotilla, which included Spaniards." "The Spanish Embassy and Consulate in Israel, as well as those in the region and the Consular Emergency Unit, are fully operational and in contact with the organizers of the flotilla," they continued. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, "is speaking with his counterparts who also have Spanish nationals on the flotilla," they added. Joint Declaration The foreign ministers of Spain, Turkey, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, and South Africa signed a joint declaration on Thursday in which they “condemn in the strongest terms the Israeli attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla, a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at drawing the international community’s attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.” “Israeli attacks on ships and the illegal detention of humanitarian activists in international waters constitute flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law,” the text continues. The declaration was not signed by any European Union country except Spain. The ministers also expressed their “deep concern for the safety of the civilian activists” and urged “the Israeli authorities to take the necessary measures to guarantee their immediate release.” They also call “on the international community to fulfill its moral and legal obligations to uphold international law, protect civilians and ensure accountability for these violations.” 175 detained Israeli military authorities have detained approximately 175 activists, including around 30 Spaniards, during an operation carried out early this morning against the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters south of Greece and about 1,000 kilometers from the coasts of the Gaza Strip and Israel. “Approximately 175 activists from more than 20 boats of the ‘condom flotilla’ are now peacefully heading towards Israel,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted on social media, attaching a video that, in its own words, shows “the activists enjoying themselves aboard Israeli vessels.” In another statement, the Israeli government wrote that “the driving force behind the flotilla provocation is Hamas—joining forces with professional provocateurs—with the aim of sabotaging the transition of President Trump’s peace plan to its second phase and attempting to divert attention from Hamas’s refusal to disarm.” “Israel is committed to freedom of navigation,” it continued. “Due to the large number of vessels participating in the flotilla, the risk of escalation, and the need to prevent the violation of a legal blockade, early action was required in accordance with international law. The operation was conducted peacefully in international waters and without any casualties,” it asserted. “An initial inspection of the vessels revealed materials that appear to be drugs and contraceptives. This flotilla is yet another public relations stunt—no humanitarian aid involved. It consists of professional provocateurs on pleasure cruises. ‘A condom flotilla,’ nothing more, nothing less,” it insisted. For its part, the Global Sumud Flotilla has denounced that, “in a violent assault in international waters, Israeli naval forces systematically intercepted, boarded, and disabled several ships” and that, “after destroying engines and navigation systems, the army withdrew, intentionally leaving hundreds of civilians stranded in powerless and damaged vessels directly in the path of a massive approaching storm.” It also stated that, among those detained, “it is estimated that there are about thirty people with Spanish passports kidnapped by Israel.” Support groups for the Global Sumud Flotilla have called for demonstrations worldwide “in response to the intervention, detention, and illegal assault in international waters by Israel,” including a rally this Thursday in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Plaza de la Provincia, Madrid. The Secretary General of Podemos, Ione Belarra, denounced on social media that the flotilla “has been attacked by the Israeli army in yet another war crime, this time in European waters, on the doorstep of our countries. We must stop them now. Break relations with the genocidal regime.” Likewise, in statements made in the halls of Congress, she warned that “it is urgent that the Spanish government take concrete action to stop Israel and unequivocally condemn this latest violation of international law.” Israel has “entered right up to the doorstep of Europe,” she declared. “I don’t know what they’ll do next. I don’t know if they intend to dock next in the port of Valencia or Barcelona and start arresting pro-Palestinian activists in Spain,” she warned. For her part, Estrella Galán, MEP for Sumar, wrote on social media: “Israel has done it again. This morning it violated international law once more by attacking the Global Sumud Flotilla. Not one more minute of impunity.”

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