Brazilians from Global Sumud Flotilla are released in Jordan
The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations confirmed on Tuesday morning (Oct. 7) that the 13 Brazilians who were on vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla – including Federal Representative Luizianne Lins of the Workers’ Party (PT) – were taken to the Jordanian border and are free from Israeli authorities. The release comes exactly two years after the start of the escalation of violence in the Gaza war.
“Diplomats from the embassies in Tel Aviv and Amman received the activists, who are currently being transported to the Jordanian capital in a vehicle provided by the Brazilian embassy in that country,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In addition to the congresswoman, the group includes Thiago Ávila, Bruno Gilga, Lisiane Proença, Magno Costa, councilwoman Mariana Conti, Ariadne Telles, Mansur Peixoto, Gabriele Tolotti, Mohamad El Kadri, Lucas Gusmão, João Aguiar, and Miguel Castro.
According to the Global Movement to Gaza, the information about the activists’ release was passed on to the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (Adalah, “justice” in Arabic) on Monday (6), when it was announced that all remaining members of the flotilla would be released from Kesdiot prison in the Negev desert, a facility located between Gaza and Egypt.
No communication
According to the report, the activists were transported by Israeli authorities across the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge to the border without the right to communication or contact with international diplomats. Assistance could only be provided after arrival in the neighboring country.
The Brazilian delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla was captured by Israeli authorities in early October, when it attempted to break the siege of Gaza by transporting humanitarian aid in 50 vessels.
The interception in international waters was considered illegal and arbitrary by the Foreign Ministry, which formally notified the Israeli government through the Brazilian Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Israeli Embassy in Brasília.
