Clash between the Spanish government and the PP over the Flotilla: "Its intervention is ridiculous"

MadridThe Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs appeared urgently this Thursday in Congress to report on the actions taken to demand the immediate release of the Palestinian-Catalan citizen Saif Abukeshek, who was detained by Israel in international waters and is currently held by an Israeli court. "He is a European citizen," he reaffirmed in his first statement, and once again demanded his immediate release. Last week, Israel intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla en route to Gaza to provide humanitarian aid and, although it released most of the activists, it is holding Abukeshek and the Brazilian Thiago Ávila, accused of terrorism. As a protest, Saif Abukeshek is on a hunger and thirst strike. In his statement, Albares promised to increase all diplomatic pressure for his release, but also referred to the situation in Iran, demanding that they also release the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. Albares' position was not supported by the PP, which clashed, once again, with the Spanish government.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs assured that the detention of the Flotilla citizens in international waters is "inadmissible," and even more so the current detention. For this reason, he announced that he has summoned the representative of the Israeli embassy, the chargé d'affaires, Dana Erlich, to demand the immediate release of the Palestinian-Catalan citizen.

The Spanish government not only referred to the situation of the Flotilla and Israel, but also took advantage of the appearance to demand that Iran immediately release the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and distinguished activist for women's rights, Narges Mohammadi. In this regard, he announced that he has summoned the Iranian ambassador in Madrid to address this issue. "I follow her situation with concern, she is in critical health condition after her worsening in prison. She must receive the necessary medical attention and we demand her release," he stated.

The majority of the chamber have endorsed the protection of Spanish citizens abroad. "We ask the Spanish government to guarantee it," said PP spokesperson Carlos Javier Floriano. However, the right and far-right Vox have accused Albares of having a double standard. "Where was your appearance in the case of the two Spaniards who are unjustly imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea in conditions of human incommunicado?", he asked, a situation that he said the European Parliament denounces. And he added: "What about the Spanish citizens detained in Venezuela?" In short, Floriano accused the minister of waving the flag of Palestine to win votes in Andalusia, which is already in full electoral campaign.

"Your intervention is ridiculous," Minister Albares retorted, adding: "Scandalous." "You have not condemned the actions of the State of Israel at any time," lamented the minister, addressing the PP and Vox, to whom he stated: "You have not asked me why I appear for those detained in Equatorial Guinea," recalling that if he appears this Thursday in Congress to talk about the detainee in Israel, it is due to the request of the parliamentary groups on the left. In fact, the left-wing parties have supported the Spanish government, but have called for it to go even further in diplomatic pressure on Israel, such as the suspension of the association agreement with the European Union or trade relations. A measure which, on the other hand, does not have the support of the rest of the European countries.