Spain Demands Apology from Israel After Detention of 'Sumud' Flotilla Activists. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares sharply condemned the actions of Israeli authorities regarding the detained 'Sumud' flotilla participants and demanded a public apology. Madrid summoned the acting Israeli chargé d'affaires for an explanation.
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Israeli embassy in Madrid after footage surfaced online showing Israeli security forces handling detained activists from the pro-Palestinian flotilla 'Sumud.' The kingdom's foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, called the conduct of the Israeli officers 'monstrous, vile, and inhuman,' demanding a public apology from official Tel Aviv.
The sharp reaction was prompted by videos posted on X by Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, showing detained activists being subjected to humiliating treatment. Albares emphasized that Ben-Gvir is already under Spanish sanctions and barred from entering the country, and similar measures may soon be adopted at the European Union level.
According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, on the evening of May 19, all vessels of the 'Sumud' flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip were intercepted and 430 pro-Palestinian activists were detained. Israeli authorities stated that all detainees were to be brought onto Israeli territory to meet with consular representatives.
The "Global Sumud Flotilla" campaign began in April: vessels set sail from ports in Spain, Italy, and France, and were later joined by ships from Turkey. Participants stated their goal was to break the naval blockade of Gaza and establish a permanent humanitarian corridor. As noted by Ynet, Israeli forces began intercepting the vessels while they were still in international waters, with plans to transfer those detained to a special floating prison and take them to the port of Ashdod.
The situation surrounding the "Sumud" flotilla has once again strained relations between Spain and Israel, and has raised questions about the rights of those detained and acceptable use of force. The incident is expected to be discussed soon at the European Union level, which could lead to new diplomatic measures.
