Mexico City Protests Demand Release of Israeli Flotilla Detainees
Mexicans Rally for Release of Citizens Detained in Gaza Aid Flotilla interception
Mexico City - Across Mexico, citizens have taken to the streets in solidarity with their compatriots aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian mission aiming to deliver aid to Gaza. The flotilla was intercepted in international waters on Wednesday by the Israeli Armed Forces, leading to the detention of several individuals, including confirmed Mexican citizens Sol González, Arlín Medrano, and Ernesto Ledesma.
Protests erupted in major cities including Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, San Cristóbal de las Casas, and Oaxaca, with demonstrators blocking key thoroughfares to demand the immediate release of the detained Mexicans. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) has issued a statement confirming they have requested consular access from Israeli authorities, urging them to “ensure that their rights and integrity are respected at all times.”
Waving Palestinian flags, protestors in Mexico City chanted slogans such as “Netanyahu Killer, and Trump Sponsorship” outside the United States Embassy, echoing global outrage over the interception of the aid mission. Demonstrators are calling for an end to what they describe as a genocide, joining a chorus of international voices condemning Israel’s actions.
Beyond the confirmed detainees,concerns remain for the well-being of other Mexican citizens who were part of the flotilla: Carlos Pérez Osorio,Laura Alejandra Vélez Ruiz Gaitán,Miriam Moreno Sánchez,and Diego Vázquez Galindo.
David Peña, legal counsel for the families of the Mexican delegation, addressed protestors outside the SRE building, stating that the detainees are expected to be held incommunicado for 12 hours. “There is no information on the places of transfer, their physical conditions, or the conditions of their detention,” Peña stated, highlighting the families’ anxieties.
Peña further explained that, according to information received, the Israeli government intends to deport the detainees, accusing them of “illegal income” to Israeli territory. He emphasized that this accusation is baseless, as the vessels were intercepted in international waters, within the maritime zone belonging to Gaza.
While the SRE has been in contact with the Mexican Embassy in israel and has established a working group with the families, some relatives express disappointment with the Ministry’s response. Peña described the SRE statement as ”quite simple,” adding that the families are seeking a stronger political pronouncement condemning the “aggression,arbitrary transfer,and illegal detention” of Mexican citizens. Some civil organizations and journalists are urging the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum to sever diplomatic relations with Israel.
Prior to the interception, the SRE had issued a statement emphasizing the humanitarian nature of the mission, asserting