MADRID: Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares on Saturday demanded that Israel release a Spanish national detained during the interception of the Gaza aid flotilla. "This is an unlawful detention in international waters outside the jurisdiction of the Israeli authorities," he told Spanish broadcasterRAC1. When asked whether Saif Abukeshek's transfer to Israel constituted kidnapping, Albares replied, "If this is carried out by authorities that have no legal jurisdiction whatsoever, then yes, definitely."
Israel makes serious allegations against Spaniard and Brazilian Israel accuses Abukeshek, who has Palestinian roots, of having links to the extremist organisation Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said he was a leading member of the Palestinian National Conference Abroad. The US authorities have said the group is"secretly controlled by Hamas." A further activist, Brazilian Thiago Ávila, is accused of "illegal activities." Both have since been taken to Israel, where they will be handed over to the law enforcement authorities for questioning, the Foreign Ministry said in a post on X. Both are receiving visits from consular staff from their respective home countries.
Albares said the Spanish judiciary would have jurisdiction if Abukeshek were found guilty, but added that he had no information establishing any link between Abukeshek and Hamas. Earlier this week, the Israeli navy intercepted 21 ships from the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters west of Crete and detained 175 people. Greece agreed to receive those detained by the Israeli navy and facilitate their return to their countries of origin.
According to consistent reports in the Greek media, all but the Spaniard and the Brazilian were taken to Crete on Friday. Aid flotilla intends to continue journey to Gaza Strip Around 30 vessels from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla entered the port of Ierapetra in south-eastern Crete following the Israeli military operation. Organisers said the flotilla was regrouping and would continue its course "to break the illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip." Data from an online tracker run by the organisers, as well as MarineTraffic, showed the boats were still in port on Saturday,likely due to strong winds. Adverse weather is expected in the Crete area over the coming days.
The flotilla of more than 50 vessels had set sail from ports in France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking an Israeli blockade of Gaza and bringing supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory. They were intercepted by Israeli forces overnight on Wednesday to Thursday. Israel said it had removed around 175 activists from the flotilla, but organisers accused Israeli personnel of "kidnapping" 211 people.
Avila was among the organisers of a flotilla that tried to bring aid to Gaza last year. That effort was also intercepted by Israeli forces.
Israel controls all entry points into Gaza and the territory has been under Israeli blockade since 2007. Throughout the Gaza war that broke out in October 2023 with the Hamas attack on southern Israel, there have been shortages of critical supplies in the Palestinian territory, with Israel at times cutting off aid entirely. Organisers of the latest flotilla said the Israeli interception took place over 1,000 kilometres from Gaza.
They said their equipment was smashed and the intervention left them facing a "calculated death trap at sea". Dozens disembarked on Friday at the Greek island of Crete, according to a journalist. Organisers published photos on X showing two activists with bruises on their faces, while one participant said in footage that Israeli forces had "beaten" them "several times". Hamas condemned the interception, alleging the activists had been abused and assaulted. — AFP
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