EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – The president of Mexico is calling on Israel to release six Mexican citizens detained while trying to deliver aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
The three men and three women were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla that tried to break through an Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. Israel intercepted several vessels about 70 miles off the coast of Gaza, CNN reported.
Among the unknown number of detainees were Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and the following Mexican citizens: Sol Gonzalez Eguia, Arlene Gabriela Medrano, Carlos Perez Osorio, Diego Vasquez Galindo, Ernesto Ledezma Arronte and Laura Alejandra Diaz Gaytan.
“We decry this situation. Humanitarian aid must reach Gaza, and our Mexican brothers have to be repatriated immediately – they did not commit a crime,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a news conference on Wednesday.
She said the Mexicans are being held in the Israeli port of Ashdod and have not been allowed to see their consul.
The Mexican Foreign Ministry has sent four diplomatic notes to Israel in connection with the incident, demanding the detainees’ rights be respected, that their physical well-being not be harmed, that they be released and turned over to their country’s consular authorities for repatriation.
According to CNN, Israel planned to expel the activists to Europe.
In a post on X, the Israeli Foreign Minister called the flotilla’s attempt of aid delivery to occupied Gaza a “provocation” and linked the activists to Hamas.
“The sole purpose of the Hamas-Sumud Flotilla is provocation. Israel, Italy, Greece and the Latin Patriarchate (offered) the flotilla a way to peacefully delivery any aid they might have to Gaza. The flotilla refused because they are not interested in aid, but in provocation,” the post said.
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