Portuguese Nationals Detained After Israeli Navy Intercepts Humanitarian Flotilla
On Wednesday, October 1st, the israeli Navy began intercepting vessels belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla, resulting in the detention of several Portuguese nationals participating in a humanitarian mission to Gaza. Among those detained are Mariana Mortágua, coordinator of the Left Bloc (BE), actress Sofia Aparício, and activist Miguel Duarte.
Fabian Figueiredo of the Left Bloc confirmed the detentions to SIC Notícias, stating, “The details we have is that all Portuguese who participate in the humanitarian mission were intercepted and detained by the Israeli authorities.” He further emphasized that the arrests “are deeply illegal,” noting the flotilla’s purpose was to deliver essential aid, “We are talking about a humanitarian mission that proposed to deliver the first need, food and medicines in Gaza.”
Figueiredo called on nations adhering to international law to intervene, demanding “the immediate release of all members of the humanitarian flotilla and to start a process of application of sanctions to all those responsible, political and military, Israeli by genocide in Gaza.”
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has assured that “all consular support” will be provided to the detained Portuguese citizens.A statement released on the presidency’s website details that Rebelo de Sousa has confirmed with the government that the Portuguese embassy in Tel Aviv will provide all necessary consular assistance, “as a rule, and in particular when it implies holders of sovereignty organs, as well as all support for return to Portugal.”
Joana Mortágua, sister of Mariana Mortágua, reported that the detainees are currently “incommunicable” and believes the Portuguese government should have already imposed sanctions on Israel. She stated in comments to RTP3, “Mariana, as much as I saw as much as we certainly no, was directly until the Israeli authorities had all mobile phones to water.”
