Spain has summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Israeli embassy in Madrid to express its protest over the Israeli interception of the aid vessel Madelene.
Israeli occupation forces detained the crew of the Madelene and towed the vessel to Ashdod Port.
Prior to the boarding, Israeli drones reportedly dropped an unidentified white substance near the ship, followed by the approach of high-speed boats suspected to have carried Israeli forces who stormed the vessel and arrested the activists on board.
Activists on the Madelene had reportedly prepared for such a confrontation. In a live broadcast from the ship, they were seen wearing life vests and holding their passports and identification documents in anticipation of arrest.
The Madelene is the 36th ship in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a campaign aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007.
The vessel was carrying 12 activists from various nationalities, along with humanitarian aid including food, medicine, and medical equipment.
Spain’s diplomatic move signals growing international concern over Israel’s continued enforcement of the Gaza blockade, particularly in the wake of increasing efforts by global civil society to deliver aid by sea.
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