El Ciudadano
Original article: Escala alerta por chilenos en flotilla rumbo a Gaza: Israel secuestra a Carolina Eltit, Víctor Chanfreau y Claudio Caiozzi
Concerns are mounting regarding the fate of Chilean activists Carolina Eltit, Víctor Chanfreau, and Claudio Caiozzi, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), after reports confirmed they were detained by Israel while heading to Gaza on their humanitarian mission.
The Chilean delegation from the GSF and the Palestinian Information Center reported that Israeli forces intercepted the boats in international waters, representing a new act of aggression against the humanitarian convoy carrying food, medical supplies, and essential aid for the long-suffering Palestinian population impacted by the illegal blockade imposed by the Zionist regime.
The alarm was raised after the flotilla reported on Monday that the interception occurred approximately 250 nautical miles off the Gaza coast by warships of the Israeli navy.
Specifically, the military boarding took place in broad daylight, around 80 nautical miles west of Cyprus, within the island’s Search and Rescue (SAR) zone.
Meanwhile, journalist Elo Gonzáles, who is covering this humanitarian mission, reported via social media that the boat carrying Carolina Eltit had been seized during the assault.
In Chanfreau’s case, contact was lost with the boat he was on, while Caiozzi was still en route to Gaza.
However, hours later, the Chilean delegation of the GSF confirmed the interception of the vessel transporting the activist photographer and visual artist.
«We demand their release and justice for this illegal act of piracy,» they stated.
CIP Calls for Diplomatic Efforts for Chilean Activists Detained by Israel
In response, the CIP condemned the detention of Eltit, Chanfreau, Caiozzi, and the «members of a delegation comprising civilians, journalists, artists, and human rights defenders from 45 countries».
«We demand that Chilean authorities immediately activate all necessary diplomatic measures to locate them, ensure their physical and psychological safety, and demand their release. Furthermore, we call for a firm and public condemnation of this blatant violation of international law,» they asserted.
Furthermore, the Center noted that the flotilla had resumed its journey from the Turkish port of Marmaris with 54 ships and around 500 participants after more than 20 boats were intercepted and 181 activists detained during a previous offensive against Global Sumud in late April, with many taken aboard the Israeli vessel Nahshon.
“After being released, several participants—including Chilean Macarena Chahuán—reported instances of torture and other abuses,” they highlighted.
Following the news of their capture, videos were posted on the Instagram accounts of the three delegation members to denounce the Israeli aggression, previously recorded to be shared in case of interception or detention during their humanitarian mission to Gaza.
Israel’s Criminalization Campaign Against the Flotilla to Justify Civilian Aggression
According to the CIP, the activists’ capture follows weeks of a criminalization campaign orchestrated by Israel and various actors within the Zionist movement against the humanitarian mission, aimed at portraying it as a threat to «justify renewed aggression against civilians.»
This pattern mirrors the narrative used to justify the massacre of ten humanitarian activists aboard the Mavi Marmara in 2010.
“Fifteen years later, Israel continues to intercept humanitarian vessels and acts with total impunity before the international community,” the organization stated in its public declaration.
“The detention of civilian vessels and the abduction of their participants aims to obstruct the entry of aid to Gaza, deepen the isolation imposed on the Strip amid the worsening humanitarian crisis and genocide against the Palestinian population, as well as criminalize any expression of international solidarity with the Palestinian people,” they emphasized.
In the wake of the kidnapping of Carolina Eltit, Víctor Chanfreau, and Claudio Caiozzi, the Chilean delegation of the GSF has called for a public mobilization starting at 6 p.m. this Monday in front of La Moneda to pressure our authorities to take a stand for the freedom of our companions.
La entrada Heightened Alarm for Chilean Activists on Flotilla to Gaza: Israel Reportedly Detains Carolina Eltit, Víctor Chanfreau, and Claudio Caiozzi se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.
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