Among the crew are three Portuguese: the blockade leader, Mariana Mortágua, activist Miguel Duarte and actress Sofia Aparício. Mobile phones were thrown into the sea to ensure the safety of contacts
The vessels where Mariana Mortágua, Miguel Duarte and Sofia Aparício were followed by Israelite forces. The leader of the Left Block and the actress were “detained,” according to Joana Mortágua on her Telegram channel. Activist Miguel Duarte is also in Israeli custody.
Mariana Mortágua was doing a direct Instagram when the boat she was was intercepted. The last thing that was heard was “hands in the air.”
In this direct on the Instagram social network, Mariana Mortágua mentioned, at 19:45 (Portuguese time), that the vessel where she was following was being intercepted by Israelite ships. Then the deputy indicated that the Israelites asked to speak with the captain of the vessel, with the right ending shortly thereafter.
To CNN Portugal Jorge Costa, from the Left Bloc, he assured that the party was in contact with Mariana Mortágua until “minutes ago when the voice of an Israeli soldier was listened to to the Flotilla participants to put their hands in the air.”
From then on, “the order that was combined among participants were given so that mobile phones were thrown into the sea to ensure the safety of contacts and information from these devices.” “From that moment, we don’t know more information about Mariana Mortágua, Sofia Aparício and Miguel Duarte.”
However, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa assured that all the Portuguese who were aboard the humanitarian flotilla and who were detained by the forces of Israel will have all the support to return to Portugal. “The President of the Republic has confirmed with the government, which will be assured, through our Embassy in Telaviv, all consular support to the compatriots detained, as a rule, and in particular when implies holders of sovereignty organs, as well as all the support for the return to Portugal,” says the note published Wednesday night on the presidency website.
The Global Sumud flotilha also indicated on Instagram, at 19:43, that several vessels integrated in the flotilha were being “illegally intercepted.”
“The cameras [das embarcações] They are offline and Israelite military personnel are accessing vessels. We are actively working to confirm the safety and state of all activists on board, ”said the same source.
Still on Wednesday, the Israeli Navy ordered the Humanitarian Flotilla boats to Gaza to change the way, the Ministry of Israeli Foreign Affairs said, while the vessels sailed off Egypt and approached the coast.
“The Israeli Navy came into contact with the Hamas-Sumud Flotilha and asked them to change their direction,” the Israeli authorities accused the Global Sumud flotilha to be funded by the Palestinian Islamite group Hamas.
“Israel informed the fleet that it was approaching an active combat zone and was violating a legal naval blockade. Israel reiterated the offer of transferring all help in safe channels to Gaza,” added the message released by Israeli diplomacy.
According to the official source of the flotilha, it was reported to the humanitarian mission that the “attempt to break the blockade is a violation of international law.” “If we continue, we will be detained and the vessels tasted,” the activists added, explaining that “Israelite forces continued with propaganda messages,” they said.
Flotilha reported that Israeli boats and boats were approaching their vessels that lead the international solidarity mission for food and medicines in Gaza.
“Twenty vessels are approaching the ships, while five boats are ahead of ‘Sirius’,” another of the ships that lead the humanitarian mission, the flotilla said.
Three Portuguese – Blocking leader Mariana Mortágua, activist Miguel Duarte and actress Sofia Aparício – are part of the humanitarian flotilla.
