Spanish activists Santiago González Vallejo and Sergio Toribio have rejected the express deportation offered by the Israeli authorities after being arrested aboard the Handala humanitarian ship, intercepted when he tried to break the maritime block over the Gaza Strip. The decision of both assumes that they will end up appearing before an Israeli court, as reported by the legal team of the Adalah Center, an Arab-Israeli organization that has taken care of its defense.
The ship was approached this Saturday by the Israeli Navy less than 100 kilometers from the Gazati coast, in a new action of the Freedom Flotilla, International Coalition of Support for the Palestinian People, to denounce the fence imposed by Israel to the enclave. 21 people from twelve different nationalities were traveling on the boat.
Of these, twelve activists, including the two Spaniards, have chosen to reject automatic expulsion. Among those who have accepted the rapid repatriation route are the French Gabrielle Cathala, the Italian Antonio Mazzeo and the American Jacob Berger, as reported by the Adalah center in.
Hunger strike and judicial process
Santiago González Vallejo has declared himself in “Indefinite Hunger strike in protest for her illegal arrest”, while waiting for the judicial procedure to begin. The Handala ship continues to be held in the port of Ashdod, under Israeli control. Two other passengers, Israeli-American activists Bob Suberi and Huwaida Arraf, have been transferred to police units, where lawyer assistance is provided.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry and the Embassy in Tel Aviv have mobilized to offer consular protection to the Spanish citizens involved. According to official sources cited by EFE, the consulate in Jerusalem is in contact with both activists to provide the necessary assistance while remaining in custody.
Families have also begun to mobilize. Raquel Toribio, sister of one of the detainees, has told Efe that he could talk to him on the phone until shortly before the approach. The activist, a 49 -year -old mechanic resident in Logroño, was already arrested in June in similar circumstances, when he participated in the Mamleen ship mission, also organized by the Fleeta de la Libertad and also intercepted by Israel in international waters.
From “kidnapping” to “war crime”
The situation has caused a rapid reaction in the Spanish political sphere. Add and Podemos have demanded the immediate release of the two activists and have denounced what they consider a “kidnapping” by the Israeli State. The Minister of Culture and spokesman to add, Ernest Urtasun, has claimed sanctions and has described “war crime” the use of hunger as a weapon. “The siege they are undergoing Gaza, using hunger, is a war crime and absolutely unacceptable,” he said. “We will not stop until the commercial agreement between the EU and Israel is suspended,” he added.
From Podemos, his general secretary, Ione Belarra, has published a message in which he has accused Israel of deliberately causing a famine and acting as a “terrorist state.” “We live at a time when activists and ships are kidnapped that transport humanitarian aid to stop a famine deliberately caused by Israel’s terrorist state and protect the genocides. Shame for those who remain in silence,” he has written in his official account.
