As the Mayor of Barcelona, I speak after learning of the very serious events that have occurred in connection with the Global Sumud Flotilla.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is a peaceful humanitarian and solidarity initiative by the international civil society, with the participation of people from Barcelona, with the goal of providing support for the population of Gaza.

I reiterate that this is a peaceful, courageous and well-intended initiative which has helped draw attention to the terrible situation being experienced in Gaza and suffered by the Palestinian people, under siege from the Israeli armed forces.

The blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, impeding the regular arrival of aid, food and essential medical items, constitutes a serious violation of the principles of international humanitarian law.

I would like to remind you that over 65,000 people, including many children, have been murdered in the Gaza Strip as a result of the attacks and the blockade imposed by Israel.

For months now, Gaza has been suffering an authentic genocide, seen by the whole world. The people of Palestine are the victims of an intolerable massacre on the part of Netanyahu’s government.

As you know, the fleet has been intercepted by the Israeli armed forces and many of its members have been detained and taken to Israel, from the information we have been receiving since yesterday evening.

We cannot remain silent before these events, which constitute a violation of international law and the dignity of those detained.

Because of this, as the Mayor of Barcelona, once more I express my absolute condemnation of the actions of the government of Israel.

I demand the immediate release of all those detained and for them to be able to go home, and for the physical integrity of all the participants on this humanitarian mission to be respected.

I would like to make a special mention of the people from Barcelona who are currently being held against their will.

In this respect, naturally, I would like to mention the councillor from this City Council, Jordi Coronas, and the previous Mayor, Ada Colau.

Barcelona also condemned the terrorist attacks of 7 October at the time, calling for the release of the hostages held by Hamas. Today I also reiterate our demand for their release.

We have always had the same stance: radically in favour of peace and dialogue, respect between peoples and an agreed solution to the conflict, based on peaceful coexistence between the two states, Palestine and Israel.

This is the position we have always defended, at all international forums, both the Government of Spain and the Government of Catalonia.

I would also like to remind you that Barcelona City Council has actively and resolutely contributed to the sending of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and that we will continue to do so with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and with organisations operating on the ground.

We have reactivated the District 11 initiative to strengthen our collaboration with cities in Palestine, such as Ramallah, Bethlehem and Gaza itself.

No other city has the connection with Palestinian cities that Barcelona has, a bond developed over the years and now reaching a new dimension with Distrct 11 Cities of Palestine.

We want to start working to help with the reconstruction of Gaza from the first moment.

Because of this, I insist: we want all the detained members of the fleet to be released and able to go home with their families and loved ones.

As the Mayor, I am in contact with the Government of Spain, through the Permanent Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of the Exterior.

I am also in constant contact with the President of the Government of Catalonia.

We offer Barcelona’s full power and voice to help work for their release.

We know that the Ministry of the Exterior is working intensely through the embassy in Tel-Aviv and the consulates of Jerusalem and Nicosia to guarantee full diplomatic protection for all the citizens detained.

And through all the international city networks that Barcelona belongs to, we will call for the release of the members of the fleet that are being held.

We also urge the European Union and the United Nations to liaise with the Government of Israel to help secure the release of those detained, using all multilateral mechanisms available.

Through the international city networks, we call on the mayors of European and global cities to add their voices to this demand for immediate release.

I would like to end by reminding you it is essential that all institutions and the international community get involved in halting this genocide and barbarity.

We want peace in the Middle East. We need a fair and lasting peace.

Many thanks