During remarks to journalists at the traditional gathering in Rua de Santa Catarina, Porto, it was noted that the four activists arrived “apparently in good physical health” despite being “certainly tired and under great pressure.”
“That is a very positive aspect,” emphasized Paulo Raimundo, who argued that it is now necessary for the mobilization of the Portuguese people in support of the Palestinian cause to “continue asserting itself.”
“There are three fundamental aspects that need to be resolved immediately: the cease-fire and the end of genocide, the recognition of the national rights of the Palestinian people, and the immediate entry of humanitarian aid,” he stated.
For the General Secretary of the PCP, the Portuguese government must “do everything to achieve this and not just follow others’ agendas that are not those of the Portuguese people.”
When asked whether government officials should have been present to welcome the activists in Lisbon, Paulo Raimundo replied, “If I were one of those four Portuguese who arrived yesterday [Sunday], I might wish to see everyone except someone from the government.”
“I think that wasn’t quite the will of those four individuals. They wanted to see their friends, their companions,” he said.
Regarding whether he believes the movement generated around the flotilla can effectively help the Palestinian people, Paulo Raimundo reiterated that there has been a “broad movement of support and solidarity” with the Palestinian cause over the past months and argued that “this movement is to continue.”
“This initiative was an action that ended up giving it centrality and brought it back to the agenda. It’s good that the Portuguese arrived well. Unfortunately, genocide continues in Palestine. That is the fundamental issue, and I am convinced that it is at the center of everyone’s concerns, particularly those of the four Portuguese,” he noted.
The Portuguese who participated in the Global Sumud humanitarian flotilla landed on Sunday, around 10:30 p.m., at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon, where they were awaited by family and pro-Palestinian supporters.
The coordinator of the Bloco de Esquerda, Mariana Mortágua, actress Sofia Aparício, and activists Miguel Duarte and Diogo Chaves were detained in Israel since Wednesday night when Israeli forces intercepted approximately 50 vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which intended to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
