Portugal today condemned the “intolerable behavior” of Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, as well as the treatment of aid flotilla activists traveling to Gaza this week, calling it a “humiliating violation of human dignity”, reports Anadolu.

“Portugal strongly condemns the intolerable behavior of Israeli Minister Ben Gvir and the treatment of flotilla activists, in a violation degrading to human dignity,” Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said on the American social platform X, just days after Israel attacked the convoy in international waters, seized ships and detained hundreds of activists.

The Portuguese government said it has been in constant contact with Israeli authorities to secure the immediate release of Portuguese citizens, stressing that guarantees of protection have become “even more urgent.”

She added that during a meeting with Israel’s charge d’affaires at the Foreign Ministry later today, will formally request the release of the nationals, file a protest and seek clarification on what it called serious violations of citizens’ rights.

The Sumud Global humanitarian flotilla said Tuesday that all 50 ships in its aid convoy were seized by Israel. Together, they were carrying 428 people from 44 countries, having set out from Marmaris, Turkey, in a new attempt to break the illegal Israeli blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007.

This was not the first attack on the flotilla.

In April, the Israeli military attacked flotilla ships in international waters near the Greek island of Crete. The convoy at the time included 345 participants from 39 countries, including Turkish nationals.

Israel has imposed a devastating blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, leaving the territory of 2.4 million people on the brink of starvation.

The Israeli military launched a fierce two-year offensive in Gaza in October 2023, killing more than 72,000 people, injuring over 172,000 and causing massive destruction throughout the surrounded territory.

Source: prizrenpost