'Don't wait for casualties': Gaza aid flotilla calls on Spain to protect boats

The coordinator of the Global Sumud Flotilla has called on the Spanish government not to "wait for casualties" before taking action to stop what he described as Israeli attacks on the humanitarian mission.

Speaking to the media following meetings with parliamentary parties in the Spanish Congress on Wednesday, Saif Abukeshek emphasized that the flotilla is not engaged in any illegal activity, yet is already receiving what he called "the first real warnings" from Israel.

Among the measures he suggested was the possibility of a diplomatic observation mission to "offer protection or at least ensure that Israel does not commit a crime."

He acknowledged what he called the "contradiction" in the attention being paid to protecting the flotilla, while at the same time "we are witnessing a genocide."

Abukeshek reiterated that the flotilla's goal is to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, and that in order to do so, it is necessary to "force Israel to stop its genocide, its crimes in Gaza, and to respect international law."

On Wednesday, the flotilla reported new "dangerous attacks" targeting their mission, which departed Barcelona for Gaza on the second attempt on September 1.

Abukeshek said there were no injuries but that four boats were damaged.

UN human rights office: attacks "defy logic"

The United Nations Human Rights Office has said that the attacks reported by the Global Sumud Flotilla "defy all logic."

In a statement released on Wednesday, UN spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan condemned the attacks on "all those trying to support the hundreds of thousands of people facing starvation in Gaza," and called for the offensive against the aid vessels to stop immediately. 

He also demanded an "independent and impartial investigation" into the reported attacks so that "those responsible for violations are held accountable."

UN rapporteur: Flotilla attacked 14 times

On social media, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, said the Global Sumud Flotilla had been attacked up to 14 times between Tunisia and Crete. She demanded direct international involvement to stop the ongoing assaults.

"Are states waiting for a boat to be sunk before intervening?" she posted on X on Wednesday.

Ex-mayor of Barcelona warns attacks could escalate

From aboard the flotilla, former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau called on the Spanish government "to send maritime rescue and diplomatic presence to stop Israel's attacks," which, she said in a post on Instagram "could escalate in the coming hours."

"After three violent drone attacks by Israel, we fear for our lives and for the safety of the humanitarian mission aimed at opening a humanitarian corridor in Gaza," Colau wrote.

Spanish king calls on Israel to end 'massacre'

Spain's King Felipe VI has called on the Israeli government to end the "massacre" in Gaza, denouncing the ongoing military offensive as "abhorrent acts that offend human conscience and shame the international community."

Speaking before the UN General Assembly in New York, the Spanish monarch also condemned the attacks carried out by Hamas.

While he avoided using the term genocide to describe the situation in Gaza, he warned that the world cannot remain silent in the face of "devastation, bombings, famine, and the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of people."