Spain summons Israeli envoy, condemns detention of Gaza-bound flotilla members

Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Thursday urgently summoned Israel's charge d'affaires in Madrid, expressing his "strongest condemnation" over the detention of members of the Global Sumud flotilla, a pro-Palestinian humanitarian convoy bound for the Gaza Strip.



The Spanish Foreign Ministry said consular protection mechanisms have been activated, according to the Spanish international news agency EFE.



Ministry sources added that the Spanish embassy and consulate in Israel, along with consular emergency units, are fully operational and in contact with the flotilla's organizers, closely monitoring the situation.



According to local media reports, Israeli authorities said they intercepted the flotilla near the Greek coast and detained 175 activists of various nationalities. Organizers of the flotilla said that around 30 of those detained hold Spanish passports, with about 20 residing in Catalonia, in northeastern Spain.



The ministry also noted that Albares is "in contact with his counterparts" in countries whose nationals were among those detained, coordinating a joint response.



The flotilla, consisting of 58 vessels, set sail from Barcelona on April 15 with the aim of reaching Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the local population.