Spain summons Israeli envoy over extended detention of Catalan-Palestinian flotilla member

The Spanish government has summoned Israel's charge d'affaires in Madrid to protest against the extension of the detention of Catalan-Palestinian activist Saif Abukeshek, held in Israel following the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said the government considers the Israeli judicial decision "inadmissible and unacceptable," after a court ruled to extend Abukeshek's detention.

Albares made the remarks during a Congress appearance on Thursday, saying Madrid is working for the activist’s "immediate release."

Abukeshek has been held in Israel for a week. Following the rejection of appeals, an Israeli court in Ashkelon ordered the detention of Abukeshek and Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila to be extended until at least Sunday.

"Contrary to international law"

Albares said he had raised the case directly with his Israeli counterpart and condemned what he described as "an action contrary to international law" following what he called an interception in international waters.

He said it was "unacceptable" for vessels to be boarded and crew detained at sea.

He added that the targeting of humanitarian missions linked to Palestine was not an "isolated incident," but part of a broader global context marked by conflicts in Ukraine, Iran, Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan.

"These are not isolated events, they are connected," he said, warning of growing pressure on what he described as the international order.

Activists warn Abukeshek's life "in danger"

Barcelona-based members of the Global Sumud Flotilla have warned that Abukeshek life is "in danger" after he began a hunger strike.

Speaking on Thursday, the flotilla's Catalonia spokesperson Pablo Castilla criticised what he described as the European Union's "silence" over the detention of a "Catalan European citizen" held in international waters, asking: "Where is Europe?"

Addressing a press conference outside the European Commission office in Barcelona, pro-Palestinian organisations also denounced police action during demonstrations last week and called for a protest at the same location on Saturday, coinciding with Europe Day.