During remarks to reporters prior to a rally in Coimbra, as part of CDU’s municipal election campaign, Paulo Raimundo condemned Israel’s stance towards the humanitarian flotilla and emphasized that the incident “further increases the need for solidarity actions with Palestine, with its people, and the demand to end the genocide.”
“The Portuguese government must naturally do everything in its power to protect Portuguese citizens, in this case, but also to intervene in all forums to end the genocide and not act inconsistently by supporting this ongoing genocide,” he stated.
Paulo Raimundo stressed that the Portuguese state and national sovereignty bodies “cannot remain indifferent” to the detention of three Portuguese citizens—BE coordinator Mariana Mortágua, actress Sofia Aparício, and activist Miguel Duarte. He noted that the “fundamental question at this moment, further highlighted by this incident, is how the Portuguese people continue to rise in solidarity with Palestine.”
“Because if we look at the core issue, it is this: an ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people (…), carried out by Israel with the support of the United States and the complicity of the European Union, thus the Portuguese state cannot wash its hands of it,” he asserted.
When asked what specific actions he believes the Portuguese government should undertake, Paulo Raimundo argued that the government cannot recognize the state of Palestine—in what he praised—while simultaneously “aligning with these supposed peace agreements that fundamentally aim to eradicate the Palestinian people and Palestine.”
Regarding the appeal made by BE coordinator Mariana Mortágua for the Portuguese to mobilize and press the government to act, Paulo Raimundo highlighted that he has been making “an enormous effort to place the Palestinian cause at the center of discussion.”
“Additionally, we call on the Portuguese people, especially the youth, who have played a crucial role here, to join all ongoing initiatives in support of Palestine, both those already scheduled and those to be announced,” he emphasized.
When questioned about his assessment of the government’s stance on the humanitarian flotilla, Paulo Raimundo expressed unwillingness to “disconnect the government’s attitude from the specific situation of Palestine.”
“We are not just talking about this initiative. We are discussing a set of issues, and the government has always been overly lenient towards the ongoing genocide. It has been too, if you will, complicit with a Zionist and Israeli regime that spares no means and is causing the death of innocent children and women,” he remarked.
According to Paulo Raimundo, “much more was expected from the Portuguese government on this matter.”
The international flotilla bound for Gaza with humanitarian aid, which included three Portuguese individuals—BE coordinator Mariana Mortágua, activist Miguel Duarte, and actress Sofia Aparício—was intercepted today by the Israeli Navy.
The humanitarian flotilla, consisting of about 50 vessels (including one flying the Portuguese flag), departed from Spain with the aim of breaking the Israeli blockade and delivering supplies to the Gaza Strip, an initiative rejected by Tel Aviv, which claims the action is supported by the Palestinian extremist group Hamas.
