The humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza has entered the high-risk zone and is expected to reach the Palestinian city tomorrow, Thursday. On board are three Portuguese nationals – MP Mariana Mortágua, activist Miguel Duarte, and actress Sofia Aparício.
In an interview with SIC Notícias on Wednesday, Mariana Mortágua, leader and MP of the Left Bloc, responded to the statements made by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
“I heard the Prime Minister’s words saying that beyond a certain level of risk, accidents can happen. I would like to correct that information: there is only a risk if there are attacks. The full responsibility for these attacks lies with the Israeli government; they are not accidents, they are not something that will just happen to the boats,” she stated.
She added, “These are attacks by a government without legitimacy to do so, in violation of international law. We will not enter Israeli waters; we will move directly from international waters to Palestinian waters. Therefore, we do not consider that the Israeli state has credibility or legitimacy to make a seizure in waters that are not theirs.”
Mariana Mortágua emphasized that “this is the foundation of this mission and the illegality of any interception, which is not an accident; it will be an attack by a state that Portugal says is a friendly state and which should have political consequences,” highlighting that no one in the flotilla is unaware of “the risks.”
“If the boats are prevented [from entering Gaza], Israel is committing an international crime,” she asserted.
When asked about her absence in the campaign for local elections – which began on Tuesday, September 30 – and whether it may harm the Left Bloc, Mariana Mortágua considered “this humanitarian mission as part of her mandate.”
“What would my party think of me if, having the opportunity and being called to participate in a humanitarian mission, I rejected this possibility with merely electoral arguments? I am here because I believe in this, because these are my values, they are the values of my party which fully supports me,” she stated.
Asked if she regretted being part of this mission, the Left Bloc coordinator stressed that she had “the greatest conviction and pride.”
“I have arranged for my substitution in Parliament. I believe the Left Bloc and the country also need to be represented [in the mission]. Shame is for those sitting on the couch watching thousands of children starving and doing nothing,” she said.
And she questioned, “I have values and I am going to Gaza for them. Those on the couch criticizing, what values do they have?”
Flotilla Enters Risk Zone
The Global Sumud Flotilla issued an alert this morning stating it had entered the “high-risk zone,” an area in international waters where Israel had previously intercepted other vessels.
“We are on high alert,” announced the flotilla on the Telegram messaging platform at 1:03 AM (Lisbon time).
“We have entered the high-risk zone, the area where previous flotillas were attacked or intercepted. Stay alert,” it added.
Livre and Bloco Urge: “Don’t Take Your Eyes Off the Flotilla”
Livre and BE have once again urged that “eyes should remain on” the flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid, as the vessel approaches the Palestinian territory.
“I will only ask all of us who are in solidarity with opening a humanitarian corridor to Gaza, not to take our eyes off the flotilla, as it has indeed entered a critical phase, and we must protect this humanitarian mission that wants to counter those who intend to starve and bomb an entire people,” appealed BE leader Joana Mortágua, at a campaign action for the local elections on the 12th in Seixal, Setúbal district.
