The Portuguese government continues to refuse support for the flotilla heading to Gaza, which includes deputy Mariana Mortágua, activist Miguel Duarte, and actress Sofia Aparício, while the Spanish government has promised to provide all necessary protection to its citizens involved in the fleet, with the first boats departing this Sunday from Barcelona.
On Saturday, Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel reiterated the position expressed days earlier, stating, “It seems unusual to me,” he told Lusa. According to the minister, the Portuguese state “has nothing to protect or accompany” the humanitarian flotilla attempting to provide aid to the Gaza Strip and break the Israeli blockade that prevents assistance from entering the Palestinian enclave.
During an informal ministerial meeting under the Danish presidency of the EU Council in Copenhagen, Paulo Rangel explained that the initiative is from civil society and that “the Portuguese state did not organize this mission, the Portuguese state is not bound to this mission.”
“We are not going to now put the Portuguese Navy fleet to accompany this flotilla or start a war against Israel; I don’t quite understand what is intended,” the minister stated, reminding that parliamentary immunity does not grant Mariana Mortágua diplomatic immunity.
“The initiative is certainly commendable; the participants themselves said it has a symbolic nature, and that’s understandable, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is indeed terrible, and I understand that everyone, in their own way, wants to use the means they see fit, but it’s a civil society initiative,” he commented.
“Another thing, but this is due to any Portuguese citizen, there is no exceptionality here, not even for being a deputy […], obviously the Portuguese state provides consular protection, should there be any problem,” he added, assuring it is guaranteed for the three Portuguese attempting to breach the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
Notably, in a press conference, Mariana Mortágua stated that the three Portuguese participants in this mission, including herself, had sent a communication to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the “essential information” about the mission, arguing that Portugal should guarantee the safety of its members.
Spain Pledges Diplomatic Protection for Flotilla
Meanwhile, the Spanish government has assured it will provide diplomatic protection to the flotilla, as done in the past.
“On other occasions, with other flotillas, we were in contact with the authorities and their members, and we implemented all diplomatic and consular protection. This time will be no different,” said Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares in an interview with Rac1, as quoted by El Mundo.
The minister also argued that not allowing humanitarian aid passage violates international law. “I understand that there are citizens who want to do as much as possible. The Spanish government is also doing the most globally to stop this war,” he noted.
The humanitarian fleet, named Global Sumud Flotilla, is set to comprise about 50 boats carrying humanitarian aid and hundreds of people, including activists, politicians, artists, and other public figures from 44 countries. It is described by the organization as the “largest solidarity mission in history.”
The first 30 boats will depart this Sunday from Barcelona, northeast Spain, with others joining on September 4 in Tunis from various Mediterranean ports.
The organization estimates the journey to Gaza will take about two weeks.
The “largest solidarity mission in history” with Gaza will depart on Sunday from Barcelona, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory and denounce what the organization calls “genocide” by Israel.
Among the participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla are Portuguese deputy Mariana Mortágua of the Bloco de Esquerda, activist Miguel Duarte, and actress Sofia Aparício.
Miguel Duarte, who has been involved in migrant rights and Mediterranean rescue efforts, told Lusa that this initiative could be “a turning point in the history of these flotillas to Gaza” from the Mediterranean, which have nearly two decades of history.
“It is by far the largest and, I think, the one with the most likelihood of actually delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza,” he stated.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is expected to have unprecedented visibility by including “people from many countries and people with platforms,” such as “deputies and MEPs, well-known activists, movie actors,” he emphasized.
Delegations from various countries include politicians and other public figures well-known in their respective countries, with confirmed participation from globally recognized names such as Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and American actress Susan Sarandon.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is a collaboration among several non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the Freedom Flotilla, Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, Nusantara Sumud Convoy, and the Global Movement for Gaza, alongside other international organizations.
Israel has been conducting a military offensive in the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Islamist group Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages.
According to Palestinian enclave authorities, the offensive launched by Israel in Gaza has resulted in over 63,000 deaths.
On August 22, the UN officially declared famine in Gaza City, after experts warned that 500,000 people were in a catastrophic situation.
