Spain’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires in Madrid, Dan Poraz, to protest the interception of the aid vessel Maddalena by Israeli forces as it sailed toward Gaza, according to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth.
The ship, part of the “Freedom Flotilla Coalition,” was carrying humanitarian supplies and 12 international activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, when it was intercepted overnight and redirected to Israel amid the country’s longstanding blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the Maddalena is “sailing safely to Israeli shores,” adding on the social media platform X that “the passengers are expected to return to their home countries.”
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, however, condemned the incident, calling it a “forcible and illegal interception by the Israeli military” in international waters.
In a statement, the group said Israeli forces “illegally boarded the ship, kidnapped the unarmed civilian crew, and seized life-saving aid, including baby formula, food, and medical supplies.”
It remains unclear when the activists will reach the Israeli coast or when they will be deported to their respective countries.
The diplomatic protest marks a further strain in relations between Spain and Israel, as criticism grows internationally over Israel’s handling of humanitarian efforts and blockades related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
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