Dozens of demonstrators and activists gathered in the Spanish capital, Madrid, on Saturday afternoon, in a permanent sit-in in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressing their anger at the continued detention of international activists from the 'Freedom Flotilla'. Participants demanded that the Spanish government take urgent action and pressure the Israeli occupation authorities to ensure the immediate release of the detainees who were on a humanitarian mission to break the siege on the Gaza Strip.
The protesters' demands focused on the need to release Brazilian activist Thiago Avila and Spanish activist of Palestinian origin Saif Abu Kishk, who were abducted after Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla's ships on April 29. The sit-in participants stressed that these Israeli practices in international waters require a firm diplomatic response that goes beyond traditional condemnation statements.
The demonstrators called on the Spanish government and other European governments to take effective steps, including cutting diplomatic and trade relations with Israel, in response to its continuous crimes against the Palestinian people and international solidarity activists. The organizers affirmed that the sit-in in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will remain ongoing and open until all demands are met and the activists return safely to their families.
Participants in the event raised slogans calling for the freedom of Palestine and an end to the occupation, chanting slogans emphasizing the continuation of the struggle until complete victory is achieved and the land is liberated from the river to the sea. The protesters considered that the international community's silence regarding the occupation's piracy in international waters encourages it to commit more blatant violations of international laws and norms.
For her part, Maria Elena Delia, spokesperson for the Italian delegation participating in the flotilla, explained that the detention operation took place illegally from a boat flying the Italian flag. She pointed out that this act constitutes a clear violation of the law of the sea, especially since the ships were in international waters about 20 nautical miles from the Greek island of Crete.
Delia warned that European leniency with the detention of citizens from ships flying EU flags constitutes a dangerous precedent and a challenge to international security and law. She added that what the activists were subjected to is not just an individual assault, but rather part of a systematic policy pursued by the occupation to intimidate solidarity activists and prevent the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to the besieged residents of the Gaza Strip.
The 'Spring 2026 Mission' had set sail from the Italian island of Sicily last week, carrying dozens of solidarity activists seeking to break the unjust siege imposed on the Strip. However, the Israeli navy launched an aggression in the open sea off Greece, detaining about 180 activists, most of whom were later deported to Greek territory, while Abu Kishk and Avila were transferred to Ashdod port for investigation.
It is worth noting that this initiative is the second of its kind for the 'Global Freedom Flotilla' in two years, preceded by an attempt in September 2025 which also ended with an Israeli military attack and the arrest of hundreds of activists. These repeated attempts confirm the international solidarity movement's determination to continue its efforts to lift the siege on Gaza despite the security risks and continuous attacks by the occupation army.
The detention of activists from a ship flying the Italian flag in international waters represents a dangerous escalation and a systematic violation of international law and the law of the sea.
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Open sit-in in Madrid demanding the release of abducted 'Freedom Flotilla' activists