Portugal has communicated with the Israeli government through diplomatic channels, urging non-violence and respect for the rights of individuals aboard the flotilla, according to an official from the Portuguese foreign ministry.
The ministry has maintained contact with Israeli authorities and reiterated this request on Tuesday night via formal consular messages.
Simultaneously, the Portuguese government has appealed to the flotilla’s crew to remain in international waters, citing serious risks associated with their plan to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, which has been under an Israeli military blockade for nearly two years.
“We make a renewed appeal for them not to leave international waters; moving beyond poses very serious risks of which they are certainly aware,” Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel wrote on Tuesday to Bloco de Esquerda leader Mariana Mortágua, actress Sofia Aparício, and activist Miguel Duarte, who are traveling on the flotilla.
In the message, Portugal’s diplomatic chief reminded that Italian frigates, ready to provide consular and humanitarian assistance, would not leave international waters.
“While respecting individual autonomy, we reiterate this new appeal and highlight that there is an effective willingness to transport the humanitarian aid via Cyprus,” the government insisted.
This proposal, put forward by Italy and involving the Catholic Church’s collaboration, had been rejected by the activists aiming to break the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian enclave.
The Israeli Navy stated it is prepared to intercept the Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising over 50 vessels headed to Gaza, which has already entered the risk area.
Today, the Portuguese prime minister stated that the government is in contact with Italy and Spain, acknowledging the “record of danger,” but emphasized that the administration acted appropriately in this context, particularly by appealing to abstain from unnecessary risks.
“We have been in contact with other member states and partners who are directly monitoring the situation, notably Italy and Spain,” said Luís Montenegro, before an informal meeting of the European Council in Copenhagen, the Danish capital.
The Israeli Navy plans to transfer the activists to a large military ship and tow the boats to the port of Ashdod, with some potentially being sunk at sea, military sources told Israeli public broadcaster Kan.
Israel has reiterated its refusal to allow the flotilla entry into Gaza waters, maintaining the blockade imposed on the Palestinian enclave.
The Global Sumud is considered the largest organized humanitarian flotilla to date.
The ongoing war in Gaza was triggered by attacks led by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages.
In retaliation, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza that has already claimed over 66,000 lives, according to local authorities controlled by Hamas, resulted in the destruction of almost all infrastructure, and caused the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.
Israel also imposed a blockade on the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave, where approximately 400 deaths from malnutrition and hunger, mostly children, have been reported.
