Metsola In Contact With Israeli Authorities To Ensure Safe Repatriation of Flotilla Volunteers
Roberta Metsola has reportedly been in “constant contact with the Israeli authorities and the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament to ensure the safety of MEP Rima Hassan, one of the people on board the ship Madleen, and all her companions,” the office of the president’s spokesperson announced.
Metsola’s staff said the situation is “still ongoing and we will remain in contact 24 hours a day with all parties until it is safely resolved,” stressing that “the European Parliament will always insist that all its MEPs are protected and treated with respect, as elected representatives of European citizens, wherever they are in the world.”
In a statement released on 9th June, more than 14 hours after the Freedom Flotilla had been intercepted by Israel in international waters and the detaining of twelve activist volunteers, the European Commission explained briefly that the responsibility of the safe repatriation of all detained volunteers lies with their countries of origin.
“The authorities responsible for ensuring consular protection are the states of nationality of the citizens.”
Eight of the 12 volunteers still remain in Israeli detention including Rima Hassan, a Franco-Palestinian MEP. The Elysée Palace has declared that France is working to ensure the swift return of the four remaining detainees and Spain and Turkey have condemned the actions of Israel.
A spokesperson for the European Commission has stated that “the EU reiterates its urgent call for the immediate, unimpeded, and continuous resumption of large-scale aid to Gaza, in full respect of humanitarian principles, and calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.”
At the initiative of the Green Left Alliance delegation in Brussels, 41 Members of the European Parliament have sent an urgent letter to the EU leadership. The MEPs, representing the Greens/EFA, The Left, S&D, and Renew political groups, urge the EU executive to demand the “immediate release of the detained volunteers and the protection of European aid workers”.
They also call on the EU to “publicly” condemn both “the attack on the ship” and “the seizure of the crew and aid.” In response to what they describe as “blatant aggression,” the signatories press for “concrete measures”, including a halt to “trade and cooperation” with Israel and the imposition of “a total arms embargo.”
To remove ambiguity, they further request that Brussels “clarify its official position on the Israeli government’s repeated and increasing violations of international humanitarian law.”
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