Second group of Spanish activists returns after detention in Israel
A second group of 27 Spanish activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla returned to Spain on Monday after deportation by Israel, denouncing torture and mistreatment during their detention. They arrived in Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao, recounting episodes of physical and psychological violence. One activist, Reyes Rico, remains detained in Israel.
On Monday night, after eleven o'clock, a Spanish Army A400M aircraft transported several activists from Athens to Madrid-Barajas Airport, joining the 21 who returned on Sunday. Other groups arrived on commercial flights to Barcelona and Bilbao, completing the return of 48 out of 49 detained Spaniards. Israeli authorities intercepted the flotilla, which departed from Barcelona on August 31 with humanitarian aid for Gaza, and held the activists in Saharonim prison for four days.
In Madrid, Simón Vidal recounted: “They stole all our belongings, beat us, humiliated us, tortured us with different insidious techniques.” Sofía Buchó described seeing Reyes Rico, accused of biting an official, being dragged by the hair by agents. An anonymous activist denounced thirst tactics: “Today they kept us for two hours in vans in the sun [...] and then offered us water bottles with cameras.” They were not allowed to sleep, with constant military interruptions.
In Barcelona, 12 Catalans arrived, including CUP deputy Pilar Castillejo and Adrià Plazas. Castillejo called the detention a “kidnapping” by the “Zionist government of Israel” and announced legal actions for the mistreatment, denial of medications, and Rico's isolation. “There are people on hunger strike who won't end it until Reyes is back here,” she added. They emphasized that Palestinian suffering is worse and that the mission continues until everyone's return.
Vidal criticized the Spanish government for sending a military ship instead of opening a humanitarian corridor to Gaza. In total, 340 out of about 470 activists have been repatriated. Rico will appear before Israeli police on Wednesday.