Beyza Binnur Donmez
30 April 2026•Update: 30 April 2026
Spain on Thursday "urgently" summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires in Madrid to convey its “strongest condemnation” over the detention of activists from the Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla, which included Spanish nationals, EFE reported.
Sources from Spain’s Foreign Ministry said embassies and consulates in Israel and the region, along with the consular emergency unit, were “fully operational and in contact with the organizers of the flotilla.”
According to Israeli authorities, 175 activists of various nationalities were detained at sea near the Greek coast while heading toward Gaza, including around 30 Spanish citizens, sources in the aid flotilla said.
They added, according to the report, that about 20 of those Spanish nationals reside in Catalonia.
The ministry said that Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares was also in contact with counterparts from other countries whose citizens were among those arrested.
One of the crew members, Catalan firefighter Pau Perez, who was not arrested, said on social media that they had spent the night trying to evade Israeli vessels.
“We do not know where they have taken them,” Perez said, according to EFE, calling for protests to demand their release.
The flotilla, consisting of 58 vessels carrying activists from multiple countries, departed Barcelona on April 15, aiming to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid.
