Spain Demands Israel Release Citizen Seized in Gaza Aid Flotilla Raid
Christine Maguire
Madrid has demanded the immediate release of a Spanish national seized during a raid on the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, which took place in international waters near Greece. The Spanish foreign minister called the detention “illegal” and a “kidnapping.” The flotilla’s organizers allege the activist was tortured, and Turkey condemned the raid as “piracy.”
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Saturday expressed concern over the “illegal detention” of Spanish citizen Saif Abukeshek and demanded his “immediate release.” Albares stressed that the detention occurred “outside Israel’s jurisdiction” and called it “a kidnapping.”
Saif Abukeshek, a dual Spanish-Swedish national of Palestinian origin, was among activists detained when Israeli military forces raided the Global Sumud Flotilla off the coast of Crete, Greece earlier this week. Together with Brazilian citizen Thiago Avila, Abukeshek was taken to Israel on Friday for “interrogation.” Israel accuses the two of ties to Hamas.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry claims Abukeshek is a leading member of the Palestine National Conference Abroad, an organization Washington says operates at Hamas’s behest. However, the Spanish foreign minister insisted that “Israel has not provided any evidence of ties between Abukeshek and Hamas.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli navy closed in on the flotilla’s 22 vessels while they were in international waters, hundreds of miles from the Gaza Strip. Operations involved drones and communications jamming technology. 175 people on board were detained and taken to Greece, except for the two taken to Israel.
Albares said the Spanish consul in Greece “had to go to the hospital because some activists needed medical assistance.” The Spanish consul in Tel Aviv was permitted to meet Abukeshek on Saturday.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, in a statement, said that according to freed activists, Abukeshek was tortured aboard an Israeli military vessel. The Adalah legal center visited the two at Shikma Prison in Israel and documented “harrowing testimonies” of physical violence and being held in prolonged stress positions.
Specifically, Abukeshek was handcuffed, blindfolded and forced to lie face-down on the floor from the time of his arrest until that morning, resulting in bruises to his face and hands. Avila was “subjected to extreme brutality,” dragged across the floor and beaten so severely he fainted twice. Both have declared a hunger strike but are still drinking water. They were expected before a panel on Sunday to extend their detention.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sent a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, affirming that Spain will always protect its citizens and abide by international law. “We demand the immediate release of the Spanish citizen illegally detained by Mr. Netanyahu’s government,” Sanchez said. Israel’s action has sparked protests and condemnation from human-rights groups and governments. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry called it “an act of piracy.”
