Nuno Melo, the National Defense Minister and president of CDS-PP, clarified this Friday that his statements about the humanitarian flotilla were made as the leader of the political party, with four Portuguese, including the coordinator of the Bloco de Esquerda, Mariana Mortágua, on board the vessels.
Nuno Melo told journalists last Thursday that the Global Sumud Flotilla was “a pamphleteering initiative, heading for a territory occupied by a terrorist organization responsible for an attack that killed over 1,200 people in Israel.”
“Is it in support of such an organization, deemed terrorist by the European Union, that these people [four Portuguese citizens] mobilize towards a territory at war?” expressed the CDS-PP leader, referring to the terrorist group responsible for the attack in southern Israel in October 2023, causing 1,200 deaths and taking 251 hostages.
The National Defense Minister, Nuno Melo, deemed the participation of Portuguese in the humanitarian flotilla heading towards Gaza as pamphleteering and irresponsible, emphasizing he is always “on the side of democracy and freedom.”
On Friday, Nuno Melo emphasized that “this flotilla does not solve anything about the humanitarian issue” and stressed the need for “peace,” “both in Palestine and in Israel.”
“In matters that concern us, it compels us to take a position that is fundamentally this: We believe this flotilla does not solve anything in the humanitarian problem”, he noted.
Later, speaking at a campaign initiative for local elections, the CDS-PP president emphasized that he was speaking as a party leader, not as the Defense Minister.
“When what we say or do is distorted and what reaches the audience is different from our thoughts, it indeed undermines the idea of democracy as we perceive it”, he began.
He added: “That is why I emphasize that I am here as the CDS president, not as the Defense Minister”.
Nuno Melo stated that although he serves as minister, “that does not mean the CDS, which is a party in a Government coalition, has merged into this Government”.
“The CDS is a political party that contributes to the political space on the Right, but it is a political party, and as a political party, the CDS has an opinion, the CDS has the right to have an opinion, and the CDS expresses that opinion. That is what I do as president of the CDS”, he added.
Portuguese detainees by Israel awaiting deportation “without food or water”
Notably, last Wednesday, October 1, Mariana Mortágua, Sofia Aparício, and Miguel Duarte, who were on board the flotilla heading to Gaza, were detained by Israeli forces. It was later revealed that a fourth Portuguese was also aboard one of the boats.
On Friday, the Portuguese received a visit from the Consul of Portugal in Israel, and Mariana Mortágua – held in a cell with 12 people – requested that a message be conveyed to her family, stating she was “without food and water.”
“Mom, I’m fine, but they don’t treat us well, without food or water for 48 hours. Call for a demonstration”, the deputy requested in a handwritten message delivered to her mother by the consul.
The ambassador Helena Paiva, who also visited the Portuguese, “was able to confirm that all were in good health despite the difficult and harsh conditions upon arrival at the Ashdod port and at the detention center”, stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) in a note sent to Lusa.
“They were not subjected to physical violence, despite various complaints – complaints that led to an immediate protest by the Portuguese ambassador in Israel,” according to the Palácio das Necessidades.
Members of the Bloco de Esquerda disclosed the latest information from the consul to the family of the party leader, who was traveling on the flotilla and detained by Israel in international waters.
It should also be noted that the four Portuguese agreed to be “deported voluntarily and immediately” and were informed that Israeli authorities will place them “on the first available flights to Europe, at the expense of the Israeli government, which may face delays due to the Israeli SUKKOT holidays.”
In this process, “they will be accompanied by an official from the MNE,” added the ministry overseen by Paulo Rangel.
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