Pedro Nuno Santos expressed gratitude on Wednesday to Mariana Mortágua, Miguel Duarte, and Sofia Aparício for their courageous representation of Portugal in the humanitarian flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip, which was intercepted by Israeli forces.
“Solidarity and a profound thank you to Mariana Mortágua, Sofia Aparício, and Miguel Duarte for representing us with such bravery,” wrote the socialist in an Instagram post, where he also shared an image of the three Portuguese nationals currently detained in Israel.
In addition to thanking the leader of the Left Bloc (BE), the former model and actress, and the activist, Pedro Nuno Santos unequivocally condemned Israel, “which once again behaved like a state that does not respect law and international rights.”
The former PS leader also admitted feeling “ashamed of the European governments that allow Israel to do whatever it pleases, including claiming international waters in the Mediterranean Sea as their own.”
In the same post, Pedro Nuno Santos remarked that the comments made on social media about these activists, especially Mariana Mortágua, are “disgusting.”
“Cowardly people, lacking empathy and a sense of humanity. One day, our grandchildren, when learning about the history of this genocide, will ask us what we did to stop it. Unfortunately, the vast majority of us will not know how to answer them. We will have nothing to say. These three Portuguese, yes. They have already done more than any of us,” he noted, further pointing out that “a people are being targeted for genocide in a territory where humanitarian aid does not reach, and where thousands of children are killed and die of hunger.”
“It is in these moments that we are evaluated as humanity,” he concluded.
It should be recalled that the three Portuguese participants in the humanitarian flotilla were detained by Israeli authorities as they were about to reach Gaza.
Currently, there is little information available regarding the conditions of Mariana Mortágua, Miguel Duarte, and Sofia Aparício.
The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, assured this morning that the government will “provide all necessary support” to the detained Portuguese members.
