Itamaraty visits Brazilians detained in Israeli prison.
The group was in a flotilla intercepted by the Israeli navy.
247 - Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) will visit again this Monday (6) the Brazilian citizens who remain detained in Israel after the interception of a humanitarian flotilla. The group was arrested by the Israeli navy last week while trying to bring aid to the population of the Gaza Strip.
According to information released by g1The Brazilians are being held in custody at the Ketziot detention center, located in the Negev desert, considered the largest in the country in terms of land area. Details about the content of the most recent meeting held by the diplomats have not yet been released.
Last Friday (3), representatives from the Brazilian embassy in Tel Aviv had already visited the detainees, in separate meetings — one with the men and another with the women in the group. Diplomatic sources reported that all are in good health and without signs of injury. Israeli authorities offered the activists the possibility of signing a document to expedite the deportation process, but only five of the 13 Brazilians reportedly accepted the proposal.
The others opted to continue with the legal process, which may result in subsequent deportation. On Sunday (5), the office of federal deputy Luizianne Lins (PT-CE) released a statement informing that the judicial hearings of the detainees have already been concluded.
"With this stage completed, Israeli authorities can begin deportation procedures, although there is still no official confirmation regarding deadlines or conditions. According to the Brazilian Embassy in Tel Aviv, information about deportation flights is expected to be communicated as soon as the Israeli government makes a decision," the statement said.
The parliamentarian added that, according to the coordination of the humanitarian flotilla, the activists are being held under "severely precarious conditions, with restrictions on water, food and essential medicines, in addition to reports of strong psychological pressure and even physical assaults."
Interception of the flotilla
The boats carrying the activists were intercepted by Israeli forces on Wednesday (1st), as they were heading towards the Gaza Strip. The flotilla, named Global Sumud, brings together around 44 civilian vessels and approximately 500 participants, including Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
According to the organizers, the objective was to deliver medicine and food to the Palestinian population. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "several boats" were intercepted and their occupants taken to the port of Ashdod, located between Tel Aviv and Gaza.
The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) informed, in an official statement, that the Brazilian Embassy in Tel Aviv "maintains permanent contact with the Israeli authorities, in order to provide the appropriate consular assistance to nationals, as established by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations."
