Spain Summons Israeli Chargé d'Affaires Over Detention of Citizen in Gaza Waters
Sergio Toribio, a Spanish national aboard a humanitarian flotilla, calls on government for assistance after interception by Israeli forces.
The Spanish government has summoned the Chargé d'Affaires of the Israeli embassy in Spain to protest the interception of the Freedom Flotilla near the coast of Gaza, which included Spanish national Sergio Toribio.
According to sources from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government is actively engaged with Toribio, his family, and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide consular protection for its citizen.
The flotilla, led by activist Greta Thunberg, was reportedly intercepted by the Israeli military as it attempted to break the blockade on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The Spanish government has confirmed that it contacted Toribio, who was aboard the boat 'Madleen' at the time of the interception.
This incident marks yet another contentious moment between Spain and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza.
The chargé d'affaires, Dan Poraz, has been summoned on previous occasions, including two weeks ago, to address Spain's condemnation of Israeli forces firing on diplomats visiting the West Bank.
Israel has not had an ambassador in Madrid for the past year.
This situation arose when the Netanyahu administration recalled ambassador Rodica Radian-Gordon in response to Spain's recognition of the state of Palestine, leaving the chargé d'affaires as the highest-ranking representative in Spain.
Before being intercepted, Toribio recorded a video in which he urged friends and family to pressure the Spanish government for his release.
In the video, he identified himself and stated, "If you are watching this video, we have been intercepted at sea and I have been kidnapped by Israeli occupation forces or a country complicit in the genocide of Palestinians by Israel.
I ask all my comrades, friends, and family to push the Spanish government to seek my release as soon as possible."
The video has been circulated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and is similar to those released by other activists aboard the 'Madleen', including French MEP Rima Hassan and several international volunteers from nations such as Brazil, Germany, Turkey, and the Netherlands.
According to sources from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government is actively engaged with Toribio, his family, and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide consular protection for its citizen.
The flotilla, led by activist Greta Thunberg, was reportedly intercepted by the Israeli military as it attempted to break the blockade on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The Spanish government has confirmed that it contacted Toribio, who was aboard the boat 'Madleen' at the time of the interception.
This incident marks yet another contentious moment between Spain and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza.
The chargé d'affaires, Dan Poraz, has been summoned on previous occasions, including two weeks ago, to address Spain's condemnation of Israeli forces firing on diplomats visiting the West Bank.
Israel has not had an ambassador in Madrid for the past year.
This situation arose when the Netanyahu administration recalled ambassador Rodica Radian-Gordon in response to Spain's recognition of the state of Palestine, leaving the chargé d'affaires as the highest-ranking representative in Spain.
Before being intercepted, Toribio recorded a video in which he urged friends and family to pressure the Spanish government for his release.
In the video, he identified himself and stated, "If you are watching this video, we have been intercepted at sea and I have been kidnapped by Israeli occupation forces or a country complicit in the genocide of Palestinians by Israel.
I ask all my comrades, friends, and family to push the Spanish government to seek my release as soon as possible."
The video has been circulated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and is similar to those released by other activists aboard the 'Madleen', including French MEP Rima Hassan and several international volunteers from nations such as Brazil, Germany, Turkey, and the Netherlands.
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