The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, will appear this Thursday in Congress to report on the Government's actions regarding the situation of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, intercepted by Israel on its way to the Gaza Strip to transport humanitarian aid
The appearance, requested by EH Bildu, ERC, SUMAR and the Mixed Group, will focus on the measures adopted to protect the members of the flotilla, who report having been attacked and detained by the State of Israel in international waters.
Among them is the Spanish activist Saif Abukeshek, arrested last Thursday in international waters while participating in the flotilla. According to the NGO Adalah, responsible for the legal defense of the activists, Israeli prosecutors have charged Abukeshek with “collaborating with the enemy in wartime, contacting a foreign agent, belonging to a terrorist organization, and transferring assets to a terrorist organization,” in reference to Hamas.
Applicant groups demand diplomatic actions
Thus, the groups pushing for Abares's appearance demand explanations on what diplomatic and legal actions will be undertaken to guarantee the safety of activists, as well as respect for international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In their statement, the signatory groups maintain that the flotilla pursues "peaceful purposes and humanitarian objectives" and that it has been "illegally attacked" by the State of Israel, "which has kidnapped its members, including international legality and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea".
In addition, some of these formations, such as ERC and BNG, have registered several questions in Congress addressed to the Government so that it clarifies why it did not react to the warnings issued by the members of the Flotilla and to demand action against the "mistreatment" that, according to their complaints, the two detained activists would be suffering.
The debate will take place in accordance with the Rules of Congress, with an initial intervention without time limit by the minister, followed by rounds for the parliamentary groups and subsequent replies.
Detention of Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila
The Spanish Government has already demanded the “immediate release” of Saif Abukeshek, calling his detention illegal. The Spanish consul in Tel Aviv has been present at the judicial proceedings and maintains constant contact with the detainee and his family.
On this same day, Albares has challenged the Israeli Executive to present "on the table" the evidence that would justify the detention of the Spanish activist. After specifying that Saif is "well" within the "terrible circumstances in which he finds himself", Albares has underlined that the explanations sent by the Israeli authorities "categorically" deny the accusations made against him.
This Tuesday, the NGO Adalah has detailed that the Ascalon court has attended the request of the authorities to extend by six additional days the arrest situation of Abukeshek and also of the Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, so that both will remain in custody, at least, until Sunday, May 10.
The defense lawyers maintain that the procedure is "illegal and flawed", as the arrests took place outside Israeli jurisdiction.