Spain Honors Albanese with Order of Merit and Escalates Diplomatically Against Israel Over Detention of Activists

The Spanish capital, Madrid, has witnessed intense diplomatic moves reflecting the depth of the crisis with Tel Aviv, as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the awarding of the Civil Order of Merit to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese. This high honor comes in recognition of her continuous efforts to document Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip, despite the international pressures and sanctions she faces.

In a parallel escalatory step, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Israeli Chargé d'Affaires in Madrid to convey a formal and strongly worded protest. This move followed the Israeli authorities' decision to extend the detention of Spanish activist Saif Abu Kishk, who was among those participating in the 'Freedom Flotilla' aiming to break the siege on the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aid.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares affirmed before Parliament that his country considers the continued detention of its citizen 'unacceptable and intolerable'. He clarified that Madrid is following with concern the conditions of detention of Abu Kishk and his Brazilian colleague Thiago Ávila, emphasizing the need to respect international laws related to freedom of navigation and the protection of humanitarian activists.

Israeli forces had intercepted the Freedom Flotilla ships, which set sail with more than 50 vessels from various European ports, in international waters off the Greek island of Crete. Sources indicated that the arrest operation took place hundreds of kilometers from the Israeli coast, raising legal questions about the legality of the military operation on the high seas.

For its part, the 'Global Freedom Flotilla' described in an official statement the continued detention of the activists as 'illegal' and a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The statement clarified that the ship they were on was flying the Italian flag, placing it under Italian jurisdiction, which also prompted Rome to express its condemnation of the Israeli operation.

Israel faces accusations of practicing 'psychological abuse and ill-treatment' against the detained activists, according to what was reported by the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights (Adalah). Reports indicated that Abu Kishk and Ávila went on a hunger strike in protest of their isolation and deprivation of sleep through intense lighting in their cells around the clock.

Regarding the honoring of Albanese, the Spanish Prime Minister's office confirmed that the order reflects Madrid's support for international justice and independent human rights work. Albanese is one of the most prominent international voices who has described Israeli military operations in Gaza as 'genocide', which has exposed her to sharp criticism from Washington and Tel Aviv.

Pedro Sánchez called on the European Commission to activate the legal 'disabling mechanism' to protect UN officials from US sanctions. US President Donald Trump had imposed sanctions on officials in international bodies, including Albanese in July 2025, in response to her reports condemning Israeli policies.

The roots of the Civil Order of Merit awarded to Albanese date back to 1926, when it is granted to individuals who provide exceptional services to the state or the international community. The awarding of this order to a UN official attacked by Israel represents a clear political message from the Sánchez government about its commitment to recognizing the Palestinian state.

Israeli authorities accuse the detained activists of being linked to the 'Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad', an organization that Tel Aviv and Washington claim works for the Hamas movement. However, the legal defense for the activists confirmed that these accusations are based on 'secret evidence' that lawyers are not allowed to view or challenge its validity.

Human rights organizations warned of the deteriorating health of the activists, especially with one of them starting a dry hunger strike, which could lead to organ failure within hours. These organizations called on the international community to intervene immediately to ensure their unconditional release, emphasizing that 'humanitarian solidarity is not a crime'.

Diplomatic relations between Madrid and Tel Aviv have been in a state of stagnation since Israel withdrew its ambassador in 2024, in protest of Spain's pro-Palestinian stance. Israeli diplomatic representation in Spain has since been limited to the level of Chargé d'Affaires, amidst sharp reciprocal statements between the two sides.

It is worth noting that Francesca Albanese has held her position as Special Rapporteur since May 2022, an independent position whose holder does not receive a salary from the United Nations. She has faced repeated Israeli attempts to prevent the extension of her mandate, but she has continued to perform her duties with the support of several European and Latin American countries.

This latest development in Madrid reflects a shift in European policy towards the conflict, as some capitals have begun to take practical steps to counter Israeli and American pressures. The issue of the Freedom Flotilla and the detained activists remains a new test of the European diplomacy's ability to protect its citizens involved in humanitarian work.

It is unacceptable and intolerable to extend the detention of our citizen, and we have informed the Israeli side of our official protest against these measures.