The activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla They landed in Istanbul on a plane of Turkish Airlines and were received by a committee of the Palestine support platformwhere medical controls will pass before declaring about the conditions of their detention in Israel. Among those deported are citizens of Türkiye, the United States, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Switzerland, Tunisia and Jordan.
The participants denounced having remained with their hands tied, deprived of food and water for between 36 and 40 hours, and even turned to drink water from the bathrooms in the absence of liquids. The Swedish activist Greta Thunberg I would have suffered blows and degrading treatment. Upon arrival, the activists took off the uniforms that forced them to use in Israel and chanted slogans as “Free Palestine”.
The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip ErdoganHe said Türkiye works to repatriate all activists and is mobilizing diplomatic resources to stop what he described as a “genocide” in Gaza. Erdogan stressed that he maintains contact with the US president, Donald Trumpand assured that the objective is to achieve peace and security for the Palestinians.
Israeli intervention and situation of detainees, among which there are Argentines
The flotilla ships were intercepted to about 70 nautical miles on the coast of Gaza by the Israeli armedwhich justified the operation claiming that the vessels were directed towards “an active combat zone.” Israel transferred around 450 activists to the prison of Saharonimwhere they remained in conditions that the participants themselves described as precarious and abusive.
The legal team of the Flotilla reported to have been able to meet with 80 of the more than 400 detainees in audiences held without prior notice, which prevented the assistance of the NGO Adalahin charge of the defense. According to the organization, hundreds of fleet members remain retained in Ktziot prison while judicial views continue.
Among the detainees are At least two Argentines: The Buenos Aires legislator Celeste Fierro and the deputy Cordoba Ezequiel Peressiniwho denounced an aggressive intimidation by the Israeli Navy and blockages to communications. Other Argentines who participated in the flotilla are Carlos Bértolamilitant of our homeland movement; The Captain Jorge González; The photographer Nicolás Marín; and the deputy Juan Carlos Giordanowho had to return to Argentina due to health problems.
International protests and mobilization
The arrival of activists coincides with mass protests in more than 70 Spanish cities. In Madridthe demonstration toured from Atocha to Callao and, according to the organizers, brought together 400,000 people, while the Government Delegation reported 92,000. The protesters denounced the genocide in Gaza and claimed the end of the arms trade with Israel, with slogans as “Gaza hurts”, “Stop genocide” and “Free Palestine”. Among the participants were the Minister of Health, Mónica Garcíaand leaders of Podemos and Add, who demanded from the Spanish government a firmer position in the situation in Palestine.
In Barcelonasome 70,000 people concentrated to demand the end of the conflict and the release of the members of the flotilla, including the former mayor Ada Colauthe president of the parliamentary group of the CUP, Pilar Castillejoand the councilor of ERC Jordi Coronasretained in Israel. The march had the support of personalities such as Josep Guardiola, Jordi Évole, Eduard Fernández and Lluís Llachwho disseminated messages of support in social networks.
Other Spanish cities, such as Pamplona, Vigo, or Grove, Sevilla, Málaga, Murcia, Valladolid, Valencia and Santander, also recorded demonstrations and concentrations in solidarity with the Palestinian population and in protest of the war in Gaza. In Santander, for example, Citizens formed a human chain around the Valdecilla Hospital to express symbolic support to the strip.
Source: Ambito
