The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) informed Lusa today that the two Portuguese citizens detained by Israel are expected to be deported back to Portugal via Turkey today. “It is anticipated that the two national citizens who were detained in Israel for participating in the Gaza flotilla will be deported today to Portugal, traveling via Turkey,” an official MNE source told Lusa, adding that the ministry has already informed the respective families of the updates.
The two Portuguese doctors, Maria Beatriz Bartilotti Matos and Gonçalo Reis Dias, were detained on Monday by Israeli authorities while participating in the “Sumud Global Flotilla” mission heading toward the Gaza Strip. The vessel carrying the two Portuguese nationals along with other international activists was intercepted by Israeli forces on Monday while navigating through international waters.
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On Wednesday, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro defended the partial suspension of the commercial agreement between the European Union and Israel. This political stance followed the public dissemination of a controversial video shared by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, in which the detained flotilla members are seen being subjected to humiliating treatment by Israeli security forces.
The European Union also reacted strongly to the footage today, classifying the treatment of the Gaza flotilla activists detained by Israel as “completely inacepptables.” The diplomatic fallout has escalated rapidly following the viral distribution of the video, which was heavily promoted online by Israel’s right-wing cabinet members.
