Spain protests to Israel over the “humiliating” treatment of Flotilla members by a Netanyahu minister

Eduardo González Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares summoned the Israeli chargé d'affaires in Madrid, Dana Erlich, on Wednesday to convey his “rejection” of the release of a “monstrous, inhumane, and disgraceful video” showing members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including “the Spaniards,” being “treated unfairly and in a humiliating manner” by the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, and the police. “I have seen a monstrous, inhumane, and disgraceful video in which members of the Flotilla were treated unfairly and in a humiliating manner by an Israeli minister and the police, among them, of course, the “Spanish men and women of the flotilla,” Albares declared in Berlin after meeting with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul. “I find this treatment extremely alarming; it is monstrous, undignified, inhumane, and I demand a public apology from Israel,” he continued. “I have urgently summoned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Chargé d'Affaires to convey our complete rejection, revulsion, and disgust at this absolutely abominable and unacceptable treatment. And, of course, I will contact the countries with members of the flotilla to take all necessary measures in this regard. “I have just instructed that, in addition to the urgent summons of the Chargé d'Affaires to the Ministry, a diplomatic note be sent to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating that we reject this humiliating treatment, demand a public apology from Israel, and hold the Government and the State of Israel responsible for anything that may happen to our citizens,” he added. “The Israeli minister who appears in those images,” Albares asserted, “has long been sanctioned by Spain and is banned from entering our country, and the same will soon apply to the entire European Union.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar himself described Itamar Ben Gvir’s actions as “shameful” for releasing a video in which he appears humiliating the detained activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla. In a subsequent message, the far-right Minister of National Security justified his actions by arguing that “there are some in the government who still haven’t understood how to behave with supporters of terrorism.” Last Monday, Albares also summoned the Israeli chargé d’affaires in Madrid to convey his “formal and strong protest” regarding the latest raid on the Global Sumud Flotilla, carried out in international waters southwest of Cyprus, and to demand that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government “immediately cease any actions that could endanger Spanish citizens traveling on these vessels.” This Wednesday's summons marks the fourth time in just three weeks that the top Israeli diplomatic representative in Spain has been called in connection with the Flotilla. 44 Spaniards Regarding the latest information about the flotilla, Albares confirmed that “the Spanish consul in Tel Aviv has traveled to the port of Ashdod, where the 430 members of the intercepted flotilla have disembarked.” “According to our calculations, there are 44 Spanish men and women, but we will know for sure as soon as we receive official confirmation, including their identities. We are also waiting for the prison to be determined where they will be transferred,” he continued. “As soon as we have official information from the Israeli authorities about the Spanish citizens, the consul has already requested to visit them to provide them with all consular assistance and protection,” he added. “We sent a diplomatic note a few days ago rejecting this action, protesting it, and stating that our citizens are clearly under our full consular and diplomatic protection,” he warned. “The Spanish government demands their immediate release,” he insisted. “These Spaniards have been illegally detained in international waters where Israel has no right to touch any Spaniard,” he warned. “We demand respect for international law and for the rights of all our citizens to be respected, who, we remind you, are carrying out a peaceful and humanitarian mission,” he added. Saif Abukeshek Regarding the decision by the U.S. Treasury Department to impose economic sanctions on four members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including the Spanish-Palestinian activist Saif Abukeshek, for their alleged ties to Hamas, Albares recalled that he himself had requested a report “to examine any possible connection he might have with Hamas” and had been able to verify that “no such connection exists.” “I also want to make it very clear and reiterate that he was brought before an Israeli judicial authority three times, which at no point even suggested that there could be any link with Hamas,” he recalled. “Therefore, we reject any accusation in that regard,” he asserted.

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