The official Spanish news agency EFE quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the unit includes the Spanish ambassador to Tel Aviv, who was recently recalled for consultations, and that it will work to ensure diplomatic and consular protection for Spanish citizens participating in the flotilla.
Spanish consulates in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Nicosia were also placed on alert, while Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares contacted his counterparts in Türkiye and Ireland to monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz described the attack as a "crime against international law," calling for the release of the detainees and the severing of European ties with Israel.
In Belgium, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévost called on Israel to respect international law, stressing that Brussels' priority is to protect its citizens on board the flotilla and return them quickly. He explained that his country had alerted participants to the potential risks but would continue diplomatic efforts to ensure unhindered access for aid to Gaza.
Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Harris described the flotilla as a "peaceful mission to highlight a horrific humanitarian catastrophe," stressing the need to adhere to international law.
The Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it is monitoring the conditions of its citizens on board the ships in coordination with its diplomatic missions and the European Union.
For his part, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called on Israel to guarantee the safety of the flotilla participants and provide them with consular protection, noting that Paris's priority is to achieve a ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid. He also stressed the need to hand over the relief supplies carried by the flotilla to accredited international organizations.
Italy's largest labor union also announced Wednesday that it had called for a general strike on Friday to protest the treatment of the Global Flotilla, which is seeking to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. Protests erupted in several cities late Wednesday evening.
The International Committee for Breaking the Siege announced that the Israeli occupation forces stormed six ships within the "Resilience Flotilla," assaulted activists, and arrested dozens, as the ships approached the Gaza coast.
This is the largest movement since the maritime initiatives to break the blockade began, as the fleet includes more than 50 ships carrying 532 activists from more than 45 countries.
The protest comes amid a tight Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has been underway for 18 years and is suffering widespread destruction and crippling famine.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, leaving 66,148 martyrs and 168,716 wounded, most of them children and women, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 455 Palestinians, including 151 children.
