Brazilian women on Gaza-bound flotilla detained by Israel
Israeli forces on Monday (May 18) detained members of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) on the high seas and took them to occupied Palestine. Among those held were three Brazilian women and activists from nine other countries. Ariadne Teles, Thainara Rogério, and Beatriz Moreira de Oliveira are members of the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB).
As in previous humanitarian missions to Gaza, the ships were intercepted in international waters, beyond Israel’s jurisdiction. GSF said 9,000 people have already been unjustly detained, describing the situation as a “climate of terror” driven by state violence.
In a statement, it highlighted the seriousness of the situation. “In light of testimonies regarding the illegal abduction of GSF participants in international waters on April 29, detailing patterns of torture, severe physical abuse, and invasive sexual violence perpetrated by Israeli occupation forces, we have serious and immediate concerns for the physical safety and well-being of all those illegally detained,” the statement reads.
International law
Also on Monday (18), Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a joint statement with the governments of Bangladesh, Colombia, Spain, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, the Maldives, Pakistan, and Turkey, describing the suffering of Palestinians as “catastrophic” and the detention of activists as “arbitrary.”
The representatives of the ten countries called for the release of their activists and reaffirmed the importance of respecting international humanitarian law.
The ministers also emphasized that repeated attacks on peaceful humanitarian initiatives reflect a continuing disregard for international law and freedom of navigation.
They called on the international community to “assume its legal and moral responsibilities, ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian missions, and take concrete measures to end impunity and ensure accountability for these violations.”
