Spain Protests to Israel Over Interception of Gaza Aid Ships

Spanish authorities summoned Israel’s diplomatic envoy to lodge a protest over the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. Madrid condemned the operation by Tel Aviv’s forces as a ‘new violation of international law’. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, according to Anadolu Agency and Middle East Monitor, on Tuesday (19 May 2026), said that Madrid had delivered a ‘formal and firm protest’ to the Israeli charge d’affaires in Madrid regarding the interception of ships in the humanitarian mission. In a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelaty who is visiting Madrid, Albares referred to the action of Israeli forces intercepting the Global Sumud Flotilla ships and said Madrid is watching the situation closely. ‘I do not have an exact number of Spanish nationals, but perhaps around 45 people,’ Albares said, referring to the number of Spaniards taking part in the humanitarian mission. He added that around ‘one to two dozen’ Spaniards who took part in the mission may currently be detained by Israeli authorities. Albares’ statement came after the Global Sumud Flotilla reported dozens of its ships intercepted and attacked by Israeli forces in international waters near Cyprus on Monday 18 May. The vessels were undertaking their latest mission to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, while carrying humanitarian aid. The flotilla consisted of more than 50 ships sailing since Thursday 14 May from the Marmaris district in the Mediterranean waters of Turkey. The crisis management team of the humanitarian flotilla confirmed that Israeli soldiers attacked and boarded several ships, with contact lost for 23 of them. The mission involved a total of 426 participants from 40 countries, including Germany, the United States, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Algeria, Morocco, France, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia, Oman, New Zealand, and Indonesia. Albares, in his statement, condemned the interception by Israeli forces that occurred in international waters. He described the Global Sumud Flotilla mission as ‘peaceful’ and called the interception by Tel Aviv a ‘new violation of international law’. ‘I want to reiterate my condemnation of Israel’s actions beyond its territorial jurisdiction. No Israeli agent has jurisdiction in those waters,’ Albares said at the press conference, according to AFP. He also said that Spanish authorities have been in contact with the governments of other countries whose nationals were also aboard the ships intercepted by Israeli forces. Regarding the detention of the activists on the humanitarian flotilla, Albares stressed that such actions are ‘unacceptable and illegal detention.’