Spain Confirms Israel to Release Last Spanish Gaza Flotilla Members

Israel is set to release the remaining 28 Spanish detainees from a flotilla carrying pro-Palestinian activists and humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza, following the release of 21 others over the weekend, Spain’s Foreign Minister confirmed.

Jose Manuel Albares told Catalunya Radio: “Today, the group of 28 Spanish flotilla members who remain detained in Israel will leave Israel.”

He declined to provide further details for privacy reasons, adding:“We are working so that they all arrive in Spain as soon as possible. The forecast is that today there will no longer be any Spaniards in jail in Israel.”

Dozens of other international act ivists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, were also expected to leave Israel on Monday. Most, if not all, will be flown to Greece, from where they can travel to their home countries, according to their respective governments.

• Israel had already released 21 of the 49 Spanish detainees on Sunday.

The Global Sumud Flotilla aimed to break the Israeli blockade to deliver aid to Gaza. The United Nations has reported famine in Gaza after nearly two years of devastating conflict, attributing the crisis to the “systematic obstruction” of humanitarian aid by Israel.

• Israel began intercepting the flotilla vessels in international waters on Wednesday.
• Israeli officials stated that boats carrying over 400 people were prevented from reaching the occupied Palestinian territory.