DaysofPal- Spain’s public prosecutor has included the Israeli recent assault on the “Resilience Flotilla” in an ongoing investigation into alleged international crimes committed by Israeli forces in Gaza.
In a statement Friday, prosecutors said the flotilla attack was added to the case opened on September 18 to examine whether the Israeli crimes in Gaza amount to serious violations of international humanitarian law and crimes under Spain’s penal code.
The statement noted that the investigation aims to establish the scope of events and circumstances in which they occurred, safeguard evidence, and cooperate with international courts in potential legal proceedings.
As part of the probe, Spanish authorities have requested details on the national flags of the targeted ships, the maritime coordinates where the interceptions took place, the nationalities of those on board, the nature of their cargo, and consular assistance provided to Spanish citizens.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and Defense Minister Margarita Robles both demanded on Thursday the immediate release of the activists detained by Israeli forces during the naval raid.
Late Wednesday, the Resilience Flotilla, a coalition of dozens of vessels attempting to break the Israeli 18-year blockade of Gaza, announced via the social platform X that it had come under attack by around 10 Israeli warships in international waters. Organizers issued a distress call, describing the assault as a war crime.
The Israeli attack triggered public protests and official condemnations in several countries. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, urged international protection for the flotilla and denounced the interception as a violation of international law.
The United Nations also reiterated that any assault on the humanitarian mission was “unacceptable.”
The latest flotilla marked the first time in years that dozens of ships sailed together toward Gaza in a coordinated attempt to deliver aid and challenge the Israeli blockade.
Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli genocidal war in Gaza, backed by the United States, has resulted in the deaths of 66,225 Palestinians and injuries to 168,938 others, most of them women and children, according to Gaza health authorities. Starvation has also claimed the lives of at least 455 Palestinians, including 151 children.
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