Spain summons Israeli diplomat over aid ship seizure in international waters

Spain has summoned Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires in Madrid following the seizure of the aid vessel Madleen by Israeli forces in international waters, sparking a diplomatic protest and strong political condemnation.

The Madleen, a British-flagged ship carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza, was intercepted by the Israeli Defense Forces while attempting to break the blockade on the besieged enclave. Among the 12 activists on board were Spanish national Sergio Toribio and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is in contact with Toribio, his family, and Israeli authorities. “The foreign ministry is in contact with the Spaniard in question, with his family and with the Israeli foreign ministry, and is exercising consular protection with regard to our citizen,” sources said.

In a video posted to social media, Toribio is seen holding up his Spanish passport: “My name is Sergio Toribio from Spain. If you are seeing this video, we have been intercepted at sea and I have been kidnapped by Israeli occupation forces, or forces of a country complicit in Israel’s genocide of Palestinians.”

“I appeal to all my comrades, friends and family to put pressure on the Spanish government to demand my release as soon as possible,” he added.

This marks the second time in three weeks that Dan Poraz, the Israeli Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, has been summoned. The previous incident involved Israeli forces allegedly firing on an international diplomatic convoy in the West Bank that included a member of the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem.

Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz expressed outrage: “I strongly condemn the seizure of the Madleen, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. This violation of international law demands a clear and firm response from the EU. All my solidarity to the volunteers who are being held. We call for their freeing as soon as possible. All eyes on Madleen“.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the activists are being transported to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organised the mission, accused Israel of acting “with total impunity.”

“These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalized for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade—their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end immediately,” Flotilla organiser Huwaida Arraf said.

Earlier, Israeli soldiers kidnapped 12 people on board the Madleen, including 11 activists and one journalist, said the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international NGO, which organized the mission.

The aid ship set sail for Gaza on June 1 from the Port of San Giovanni Li Cuti in Sicily, Italy.

The boat, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was en route to Gaza carrying supplies such as baby formula and medical materials, and had activists aboard.

By Vafa Guliyeva