The Government of Mexico reported that six Mexican citizens who integrated the Sumud Global Flotilla, organized to bring humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, were transferred by the Israeli authorities to the port of Ashdod and will be sent to the Ketziot detention center, in the Negev desert.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) said that another Mexican, which was traveling on the boat responsible for the legal support of the flotilla, is addressed to Cyprus after separating from the main group.
According to the information, personnel of the Mexican embassy in Israel went to the port of Ashdod to verify the situation of detainees, request consular access and verify that their physical integrity and rights are respected according to international law.
The Foreign Ministry said it maintains the requirement of decent treatment and legal guarantees for retained Mexican citizens.
He recalled that so far the Mexican government has sent four diplomatic notes to the Israeli authorities and has held meetings with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country.
The objective, he said, is “to guarantee the physical integrity and respect for the rights of Mexican people, as well as ask for guarantees and information about the reasons or circumstances that are imputed to them, and to be able to provide consular assistance that allows their immediate repatriation to Mexico.”
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The SRE added that it has maintained permanent communication with the nationals since the flotilla sailed, as well as with their relatives in Mexico and said that it will give timely follow -up to the case, in addition to using all the legal and diplomatic resources available to achieve its return.
He stressed that humanitarian assistance does not constitute any crime and, on the contrary, is part of the obligations established in international law for the parties involved in armed conflicts.
“It is an expression of solidarity of the international community,” he said.
This Thursday, the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, also demanded from the Government of Israel the immediate repatriation of the six nationals who sailed in the flotilla on September 2, because she argued that “they did not commit any crime.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced this Thursday as some of the activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla arrested are “safe and in good health” and being transferred “safely” to Israeli territory, where “deportation procedures to Europe will begin.”
The Sumud Global Flotilla, almost completely dismantled and with more than 90 % of its members detained -443 of 500- by Israeli forces, maintains the Summertime ship – of legal support – in the Mediterranean, after the interception of more than 40 vessels when they approached Gaza.
From Wednesday afternoon, the Israeli Navy was thoroughly used in preventing the boats from the flotilla – which intended to break the blockade to Gaza and bring humanitarian aid – they got into territorial waters, so it addressed all the ships and arrested the crew, except for the summertime, in just over 12 hours, ending the mission.
With EFE information.
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