Parliament suspends plenary session due to the detention of the Flotilla, with opposition from Junts, PP, Vox, and Aliança.

BarcelonaParliament has been split in two following the Israeli army's detention of the flotilla heading toward Gaza to break the humanitarian blockade. The PSC (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party), ERC (Republican Workers' Party), Comuns (Comuns), and CUP (Cup) have forced the suspension of the plenary session scheduled for this Thursday in protest, while Junts (Junts), PP (People's Party), Vox (Vox), and Aliança (Aliança) have voted against calling it off. The left argues that the suspension is justified because Israel's actions have been in international waters and because a member of the chamber, Pilar Castillejo (Cup member), is traveling, but the right criticizes it. Junts (Junts) criticizes the fact that no plenary session has been suspended so far due to the conflict and is being held in favor of the flotilla, and the PP considers the initiative to be "media theater." President Salvador Illa, speaking from Rome, has already explained that the government has provided "legal support" to the flotilla members, although they are currently being held incommunicado, according to the initiative's organizers. Meanwhile, Isabel Díaz Ayuso has accused the Flotilla activists of "not wanting peace."

In the Catalan parliament, the day began with the approval of a text from the committee calling for "maximum attention and diplomatic agility" to release MP Castillejo and the rest of the Flotilla members. Shortly after, the board of spokespersons decided to cancel the plenary session scheduled for today and reconvene it next Tuesday. The decision was taken at the initiative of and with the support of the PSC, ERC, Comuns, and the CUP. The right and far right voted against it. Together, however, they joined the minute of silence held mid-morning and abstained from approving another declaration that also called for the immediate release of the detainees and the activation of diplomatic and consular protection.

The spokesperson for the regional councillors in Parliament, Mònica Sales, complained: "No plenary session has been suspended due to the war between Israel and Palestine, and now they want to stop it due to the interception of the Flotilla." Sales, who accused those behind the suspension of using the conflict "for partisan purposes," criticized the fact that they are asking for the plenary session to be suspended but at the same time President Isla and the councillors are maintaining their agenda. In this regard, the president of the PSC parliamentary group, Ferran Pedret, pointed out that Parliament has one of its members detained by the Israeli authorities in an action by the Hebrew state "that contravenes international law."

Both the Comuns and the CUP (Commons) wanted to appear this Thursday from their headquarters to show their support for Colau and Castillejo, who are currently incommunicado. The coordinator of the Commons, Gemma Tarafa, has urged the Spanish government to contact Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to demand the "immediate" release of the activists, and has announced that they will ask the Spanish Prosecutor's Office to open an investigation. For the CUP, party spokesperson Su Moreno lamented that the Speaker of the Parliament, Josep Rull, has not been "up to the task" and has put "obstacles" in the way of both the suspension of the plenary session and the reading of the institutional declaration.

The Government offers legal assistance

The Catalan government has also expressed its full support for the detained members of the flotilla. The president of the Generalitat (Catalan government), Salvador Illa, announced in a statement from Rome that he is offering them the government's "legal support" to defend their rights against Israel. The president continues his official visit to the Italian capital, but explained that he will be "monitoring" the developments in the situation and that there could be changes to his schedule. For the time being, he has suspended the lecture he was scheduled to give this Thursday at La Sapienza University in solidarity with the university protests over the situation in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Minister for the Presidency, Albert Dalmau, will contact the families of the Catalan crew members to convey the government's offer of legal assistance and to determine exactly how many are affected. According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are between eight and twelve Catalans.

Since Wednesday night, Isla has been "in constant contact" with the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, as well as with the Speaker of the Parliament, Josep Rull. He has also spoken with the Spanish consul, who informed him that he will probably not be able to meet with the detained activists until tomorrow. "If at any point it is necessary to contact Israeli authorities, I will do so," added the president of the Generalitat.

Sánchez says he will consider "all types of actions."

From Copenhagen, at the start of the summit of European leaders in which he is participating, the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, has asked Israel to "protect the rights" of all members of the Flotilla, as it "does not represent any danger to the government of Israel," he stressed. He also assured that his government will consider "all types of actions," but insisted: "The important thing now is the safety of our compatriots and their ability to return home." In recent days, Spain had sent a frigate to provide cover for the humanitarian initiative's vessels, but when they approached Gaza and entered the danger zone, the Spanish government withdrew it.

Ayuso attacks the Flotilla

Those who are not in favor of the Flotilla initiative are the right and the far right. While Junts is balancing its position, the PP, led by the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, questioned the Flotilla and accused its members and the parties that support it of "not wanting peace." "It was just hearing the word peace and they almost broke. Whoever goes to bed with Bildu wakes up kidnapped," he stated in the regional Assembly. In his opinion, the members of the Flotilla "are trying to undermine by all means" US President Donald Trump's peace proposal for Gaza. And he predicted that what it will be used for is beach bars, theater, and cinema."