A group of Spanish activists have occupied their country’s embassy in Greece, calling for the release of an aid flotilla to the Gaza Strip.The Greek government decided last week to prevent the departure of a flotilla of ten ships and 500 activists to the Gaza Strip, after diplomatic pressure by Israel.
The Spanish activists stormed their embassy in Athens on Tuesday, and have remained in the embassy since that time. Their key demand is that the Spanish government pressure Greece to allow the flotilla to sail to Gaza.
Spanish European Parliament member Willy Meyer said the blockade on Gaza is “totally illegal”, and said that the decision to block the aid flotilla is against international law.
Most of the 500 activists who are in Greece preparing to go to Gaza say that they are determined to remain with their boats until Greece lets them go.
The captain of the US boat, who was arrested on Friday when he tried to leave the port, was released yesterday without charges.
The United Nations issued a statement condemning the aid flotilla and urging the activists to use “other means” to get aid to Gaza. But the Freedom Flotilla participants say this statement is disingenuous, as the Israeli naval blockade has prevented ‘other means’ for getting aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.
