The Left Bloc member Fabian Figueiredo addressed on Thursday morning the detention of three Portuguese civilians, including the leader of the Left Bloc (BE), Mariana Mortágua. Figueiredo criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE), stating that they receive more information from what Israeli diplomacy publishes on social media.
“Israel illegally detained three Portuguese citizens, whose whereabouts are unknown. Unfortunately, despite our insistence, the MNE has not yet responded to our request for a meeting,” he stated.
Conversely, Fabian Figueiredo praised the efforts of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who “has been exemplary,” already agreeing to the meeting request, which will take place at 2 PM in Belém.
“We expect to receive more information, which, it must be said, should come directly from the MNE because it is the MNE that conducts and directs Portuguese diplomacy,” he criticized.
“We express with deep concern that we have no information regarding Mariana Mortágua, Sofia Aparício, and Miguel Duarte since they were detained,” he revealed, criticizing the actions of the office overseen by Paulo Rangel.
The Left Bloc claims that the information they receive is “that which is published by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on social media.”
They urge the MNE to “finally respond to the meeting request and provide information to the families and the Left Bloc.”
It should be noted that the three activists were part of a humanitarian flotilla heading to Gaza, which departed from Barcelona, Spain, earlier this month. On Wednesday night, Mariana Mortágua and Sofia Aparício were detained by Israeli authorities after boarding the vessels less than 170 kilometers from Gaza.
Later, the vessel carrying Miguel Duarte was also intercepted by Israeli authorities, resulting in his detention. Most of the vessels have already been intercepted, with expectations that the activists aboard will disembark at Israeli ports today.
The Portuguese chief diplomat did not specify the Israeli port where the Portuguese would disembark.
On Thursday morning, the Prime Minister, currently in Copenhagen, Denmark, assured that the Government would provide “full support” to the Portuguese and is in contact with Rangel, who is “managing” the situation.
“We are in contact with the Israeli authorities, aiming to ensure the situation of these Portuguese is safeguarded and to provide full consular support as is our responsibility with these and all Portuguese in equivalent situations, acknowledging that one of these individuals is, besides, a holder of a sovereignty body,” stated Luís Montenegro, specifically mentioning Mariana Mortágua.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, yesterday, issued a note on the Presidency’s website: “The President of the Republic confirmed with the Government that through our Embassy in Tel Aviv, all consular support will be provided to the detained compatriots, as is usual, especially when it involves holders of sovereignty bodies, as well as all support for their return to Portugal.”
[Updated news at 11h57]
