The leader of the Left Bloc, Joana Mortágua, announced on Friday that negotiations are underway to allow the Portuguese consul in Israel to remain with detained activists in a prison in the Negev desert until their release, following the report of “degrading conditions” witnessed by Ambassador Helena Paiva.
“The degrading situation that the ambassador witnessed has led to negotiations so that the consul can stay with the Portuguese citizens in the prison until their release to monitor their situation,” stated Mortágua in an interview with SIC Notícias.
These statements follow a note sent to the family by Joana’s sister, Mariana Mortágua, detailing that she was in a cell with 12 other people, “without food or water for 48 hours.”
“We don’t even know if Mariana is aware of how long she’s been detained. We don’t know if they’ve let her sleep, if they haven’t. Israel is not known for respecting human rights in prisons; we can’t assume anything. […] What we know is that Israel assured the Portuguese government they would treat people with dignity, and there’s no dignity here,” criticized Joana Mortágua.
The Left Bloc leader also questioned the “difference in treatment” between Portuguese activists and four Italian deputies, who landed today at Fiumicino Airport in Rome.
Members of the Left Bloc revealed the latest information given by the consul to the family of the party leader, who was aboard the flotilla and detained by Israel in international waters.
Joana Mortágua emphasized that “the flotilla members were exposed so that one of the most notorious ministers of the Israeli government could create a propaganda video, while insulting them as if they were circus animals.”
“This was the first proof that Israel’s assurance to the Portuguese government that the flotilla members detained illegally would be treated with dignity and their individual rights respected […] means nothing. It means nothing,” she stated.
The former parliamentarian also provided a timeline of events: “There was an illegal detention. Since then, we have had no communication with any of the detainees. Zero. They were exposed to that degrading situation by a minister still at the port. They were transported to the desert to a prison in what diplomacy describes as chaotic conditions. It’s diplomatic language; I translate it to degrading, at best. They were then incarcerated in this prison. The ambassador had the opportunity to visit them [and] reported to us that, although they are in good health, the prison conditions are poor. There is a lack of drinking water, lack of food, and no rest conditions. It was after this that my mother received a message from the consul, sent by Mariana.”
The Left Bloc leader announced that, following her sister’s request, there will be a protest next Saturday at 3:00 PM in Martim Moniz, Lisbon.
“Mom, I’m okay, but they are not treating us well, without food or water for 48 hours. Organize a protest,” requested the deputy in a message forwarded to the family by the consul.
Mariana sends a message to the family via the consul. pic.twitter.com/YGHQJf76Ln
— Joana Mortágua (@JoanaMortagua) October 3, 2025
Official government sources note that the four Portuguese members of the Global Sumud Flotilla detained in Israel are “in good health, despite the difficult conditions.” However, “multiple complaints” led to an “immediate protest” by the Portuguese ambassador in Israel.
Helena Paiva, who visited the activists, “was able to confirm that all were in good health despite the harsh conditions upon arrival at the Ashdod port and in the detention center,” stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) in a note sent to Lusa.
“They were not subjected to physical violence, despite several complaints – complaints which led to an immediate protest by the Portuguese ambassador in Israel,” added Palácio das Necessidades.
Notably, Left Bloc coordinator Mariana Mortágua, actress Sofia Aparício, and activists Miguel Duarte and Diogo Chaves are among the more than 450 participants in the humanitarian mission detained by Israeli forces, who intercepted the flotilla approximately comprising 50 vessels between Wednesday and Thursday.
