Marisa Matias has provided an update on the situation involving four Portuguese citizens detained by Israeli forces while participating in a humanitarian flotilla heading to Gaza.
During a campaign event in Condeixa-a-Nova, Matias, who is substituting for Mariana Mortágua—detained in Israel—reported receiving a government phone call. “Unfortunately, there aren’t many new details,” she lamented, highlighting that Israeli authorities continue to act “with impunity.”
Matias noted that the Portuguese ambassador in Israel is nearing the detention center to make contact with the detained crew members, but little else is known. “It’s very concerning, especially for the families,” she stressed, noting that “these individuals have been detained for a long time without any opportunity to contact their families.”
“It’s not normal for detainees to be unable to make a phone call to their family. This is usually permitted worldwide,” she asserted, emphasizing the need for the government to “apply pressure to ensure contact and information regarding the Portuguese citizens. We have a pressing need to know they are safe.”
Matias also expressed regret that Italy and Spain had already managed to communicate with their citizens, while Portugal had not.
Portuguese detained since Wednesday
The operation to halt the flotilla began on Wednesday and involved the interception of approximately 50 vessels.
The Adara, part of the humanitarian flotilla and carrying Mariana Mortágua, was intercepted by Israeli forces on Wednesday afternoon. Among those detained are the leader of Bloco de Esquerda, actress Sofia Aparício, and activist Miguel Duarte.
Another Portuguese, Diogo Chaves, was also on the flotilla, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lisbon. In addition, 30 Spaniards, 22 Italians, 21 Turks, 12 Malaysians, 11 Tunisians, 11 Brazilians, and 10 French nationals were detained, along with citizens from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Colombia, and several other countries.
Flotilla activists transferred to prison in southern Israel
The legal team supporting the Global Flotilla Sumud stated today that the 473 crew members detained by the Israeli naval forces have been moved to a prison in the Negev desert in southern Israel. Loubna Yuma, a lawyer with Adalah, the flotilla’s legal team, told EFE news agency that the activists were taken to Saharonim prison, where they are likely to be deported to their countries of origin.
The Italian Foreign Minister announced that the Israeli government plans to repatriate all flotilla crew members “through a single forced expulsion measure.”
