Spain and Brazil Condemn Israel's Kidnapping of Gaza Flotilla Activists

London (ANTARA) - Spain and Brazil have strongly condemned the kidnapping of two of their citizens in international waters by Israel in what they describe as a blatant illegal act.

In a joint statement on Friday (1/5), the governments of Spain and Brazil stated that the two activists were aboard the Sumud flotilla vessel, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, and were not released either when the ship was seized or after the passengers and crew were disembarked on the island of Crete.

“This blatant illegal act by Israeli authorities outside their jurisdiction constitutes a violation of international law, which can be brought before an international court, and may constitute a criminal offence under the national laws of our respective countries,” the statement warned.

The governments of Spain and Brazil have demanded that the Israeli government immediately repatriate their citizens with full safety guarantees and provide immediate consular access for assistance and protection.

The global humanitarian aid flotilla, Global Sumud, was attacked on Thursday near a Greek island approximately 600 nautical miles from its destination, the blockaded Gaza region.

The first flotilla ships carrying humanitarian aid departed from Barcelona on 12 April, while the main flotilla sailed from the island of Sicily, Italy, on 26 April, aiming to break the long-standing blockade of Gaza.

Israel has imposed a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, leaving around 2.4 million residents of the territory on the brink of starvation.

The Israeli military launched a brutal offensive in Gaza over the past two years since October 2023, killing more than 72,000 people, injuring more than 172,000 others, and causing widespread destruction throughout the besieged region.

Source: Anadolu