Ruptly
"Activist and member of the Global Sumud Flotilla Saif Abu Keshek accused Tel Aviv of 'torture', 'kidnapping' and other 'illegal' actions after his release from Israeli custody, in Barcelona on Monday. "I no longer know where the blockade really begins. Does it begin at 150 miles, at 200 miles, on the beaches of Barcelona? Where does the blockade on Gaza begin? Because their excuse is that we crossed a prohibited military zone defined by them," he said. "The Israeli government violated numerous laws. First, our interception at 700 miles, the kidnapping of 180 people, the physical assaults on everyone aboard the large ship and torture, our own kidnapping into occupied Palestine, and what we experienced in prison during those days. Another issue is that they left the boats drifting," Abu Keshek added. He called on Spain and European countries to increase pressure on Israel and implement stronger measures over the war in Gaza. “Our government must effectively implement an arms embargo and must play a much more significant role at the European level,” he said. Abu Keshek stated that organisers were consulting legal teams regarding possible action linked to the incident. He and activist Brazilian Thiago Avila were among 175 activists detained by Israeli forces after they intercepted 22 boats in international waters near Crete last week. The two remained in custody, while the others were released. Their arrests drew widespread condemnation from international rights groups, while Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares described the Israeli action as 'illegal'. The Israeli foreign ministry has said that claims of 'torture' were 'false and baseless'."
Go to News Site