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Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has called for the immediate release of Spaniard Saif Abu Keschek, who was arrested by Israel when it stopped the Gaza aid fleet. “This is an unlawful detention in international waters outside the jurisdiction of the Israeli authorities,” the minister said in a radio interview with Spanish broadcaster RAC1. When asked whether the transfer of Abu Keshek to Israel was a “kidnapping,” Albares replied: “If it is done by authorities that have no legal jurisdiction, yes, definitely.”

Israel accuses Abu Keshek, who has Palestinian roots, of having connections to the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, he is a leading member of the People’s Conference of Palestinians Abroad. According to information from US authorities, it is said to be “secretly controlled by Hamas”. The Brazilian Thiago Ávila is accused of “illegal activities”. Both have now been brought to Israel, where they will be handed over to law enforcement authorities for questioning, the Foreign Ministry wrote on Platform

Albares emphasized that the Spanish judiciary would be responsible if Abu Keschek was guilty. However, he has no information that would prove Abu Keschek’s connection to Hamas. The arrest of the Spaniard increases tensions between the two countries, which worries him. Spain is one of Israel’s harshest critics in the EU. The Israeli action against the activists and their boats also caused great concern in Berlin and Rome.

The Israeli Navy intercepted 21 ships of the “Global Sumud Flotilla” in international waters west of Crete on Thursday night and said it arrested 175 people. Greece agreed to accept those arrested by the Israeli Navy and to allow their return to their countries of origin. As the Greek media consistently reported, these people, apart from the Spaniard and the Brazilian, were brought to Crete on Friday.