Tensions around the Gaza Strip have risen again following the incident with the international humanitarian flotilla. The ships, carrying activists from various countries including Spain, were intercepted by Israeli forces and escorted to the port of Ashdod. Although the situation remained non-violent, this move threatens to cause serious diplomatic tensions between Israel and several European countries.
Amid these events, an unexpectedly sharp opinion was voiced on the program ‘Todo es mentira.’ Host Risto Mejide did not remain neutral, interrupting his colleagues to share his strong stance. He admitted that for him, staying silent in this situation was simply unbearable.
The journalist drew a clear distinction between bravery and recklessness. In his view, the actions of the flotilla participants have nothing to do with genuine heroism. A true hero, he believes, saves victims, and it would have been wonderful if this operation had actually helped to stop the mass killings of civilians in Gaza. However, Mejide sees the activists’ actions as a dangerous gamble.
He explained that a heroic act should not draw uninvolved parties into its orbit. In his opinion, these people put the fragile relations between Spain and Israel at risk at an extremely delicate moment. At the same time, they acted without any mandate from the Spanish people, lacking the legitimacy held, for example, by the army, which represents the interests of the state.
To illustrate the seriousness of the risks taken, Mehide proposed a hypothetical scenario. What if, during the interception, a conflict had arisen and one of the Israeli soldiers—who are not always known for their respect for international law—had used violence against a Spanish citizen? What situation would that have created for the entire country and all Spaniards?
At the same time, the commentator emphasized that he fully supports the humanitarian goals of the mission. He unequivocally described the actions of the Israeli government in the Gaza Strip as “genocide” and “total extermination,” regardless of international legal definitions. His criticism is directed solely at the method chosen by the activists, which he finds completely inappropriate.
Fortunately, the Israeli military acted with restraint. “One shot there—and they would have created huge problems for all of us as a country,” he concluded. He summed up his point with the remark that courage is about risking yourself, not putting the entire country in jeopardy. This statement, which went beyond the moderator’s usual role, sparked heated debate in the studio and once again demonstrated just how complex this Middle Eastern knot is, where humanitarian impulses are interwoven with high politics.
