The Spanish government strongly condemned the Israeli authorities' detention of Spanish-Palestinian activist Saif Abu Kashk, describing the action as illegal and a blatant disregard for international norms. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares affirmed that this detention occurred in international waters, placing it outside any legal jurisdiction that would grant Israel the right to intercept ships or arrest those on board.
In press statements, Albares demanded the immediate release of Abu Kashk to ensure his safe return to Spain, emphasizing that his country would not tolerate any negligence in following up on the case of its forcibly detained citizens. These demands come at a time when diplomatic relations are experiencing escalating tension following the interception of the 'Global Freedom Flotilla,' which was en route to break the siege on the Gaza Strip.
For its part, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the transfer of two activists from the flotilla to interrogation centers inside Israel: Saif Abu Kashk and Brazilian Thiago Avila. Israeli sources claimed that Abu Kashk is a prominent leader in the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad, while Avila was accused of engaging in activities that Tel Aviv describes as illegal and supportive of hostile organizations.
In a strongly worded joint statement, the Spanish and Brazilian governments described this Israeli action as a flagrant violation of international law that warrants accountability before competent international courts. The statement indicated that intercepting ships in the open sea, far from Israeli coasts, represents a dangerous precedent in infringing upon the freedom of international navigation and the rights of peaceful activists.
Last Thursday, the Israeli army intercepted the 'Freedom Flotilla' off the coast of the Greek island of Crete, an area hundreds of kilometers from the Gaza Strip. The operation resulted in the arrest of approximately 175 activists who were on board twenty boats, before an agreement was reached to release most of them in Greece, with the exception of the Spanish and Brazilian activists who were forcibly deported to Israel.
The organizers of the Freedom Flotilla aim through these voyages to highlight the escalating humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip and demand an end to the siege that has been ongoing for years. The organizations behind the flotilla affirm that the humanitarian aid entering the Strip remains below the minimum required to meet the needs of more than two million people living in catastrophic conditions.
Field reports indicate that the majority of the Strip's residents suffer from repeated displacement and live in temporary tents or on the ruins of their destroyed homes as a result of ongoing military operations. Despite previous understandings to increase the flow of aid, strict Israeli restrictions continue to impede the arrival of essential medical and food supplies, prompting international activists to organize such flotillas.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time the Israeli army has intercepted maritime attempts to break the siege; last October witnessed a similar incident during which hundreds of participants were arrested, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. These maritime confrontations continue in the absence of a comprehensive political solution that guarantees the lifting of the siege and the securing of permanent and stable humanitarian corridors for the residents of the besieged Gaza Strip.
We are facing an illegal detention in international waters, outside the jurisdiction of any Israeli authorities, and Saif Abu Kashk must be released immediately.
شارك برأيك
Madrid and Brasilia Condemn Israel's Detention of 'Freedom Flotilla' Activists and Demand Immediate Release