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"Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday demanded the release of a Spanish citizen detained by Israeli authorities and rejected calls to sharply increase defence spending. "We will always defend international law - and this is yet another violation of it […] We demand the release of the Spanish citizen who has been unlawfully detained by Netanyahu's government," Sanchez said during the PSOE rally in Malaga. Sanchez also rejected calls to raise defence spending to five per cent of GDP, a target pushed by the US administration and backed by some of his political opponents at home. "It would mean an extra €3,000 per citizen in Spain, €80 billion more per year. Per year. That would mean raising taxes or cutting the welfare state," Sanchez said. "And we, I’m sorry, will always stand on the side of the welfare state." The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Barcelona on April 12 with over 70 vessels and 1,000 participants from more than 70 countries. Israeli forces reported the interception of 22 flotilla vessels late Wednesday in international waters about 965 km (600 miles) from Gaza. According to the Israeli foreign ministry, 175 activists were detained. Meanwhile, the flotilla's organisers claimed that 211 activists were 'kidnapped,' denouncing the interception as 'unlawful seizure' and 'piracy.' The interception has already drawn criticism from several capitals. Spain and Italy condemned the seizure of the vessels by Israel, demanding the release of 'unlawfully detained' Spanish and Italian nationals, while the Turkish Foreign Ministry described it as an 'act of piracy.'"
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