MADRID / JERUSALEM, May 25, 2026
Spain has strongly condemned the reported treatment of activists from an international Gaza-bound aid flotilla after Israeli forces intercepted the vessel in international waters and detained several participants, including Spanish nationals.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described images allegedly showing detainees being mocked and humiliated by Israel’s National Security Minister as “unacceptable,” warning that Madrid “will not tolerate mistreatment of its citizens.”
The controversy centers on Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has been widely criticised after visuals circulated showing him interacting with detained activists. Spain has already summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires and demanded an official apology, calling the reported conduct “inhumane” and “monstrous.”
Madrid has also indicated it will press for broader European Union-level sanctions against Ben-Gvir, escalating diplomatic pressure amid growing tensions between the two countries.
The activists were part of an international humanitarian flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Gaza, an effort that has drawn both support and controversy amid the ongoing conflict in the region.
The incident has further strained diplomatic relations, with Spain reaffirming its stance on protecting humanitarian missions and upholding international maritime law.
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