El Ciudadano
Original article: Israel secuestra en aguas internacionales a periodista chilena que viajaba en flotilla humanitaria hacia Gaza
Macarena Chahuán, a 33-year-old Chilean-Palestinian journalist, was captured in international waters while aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian mission aimed at breaking the blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza, which has persisted for more than 17 years against the Palestinian population.
The news was shared by her associates, who reported a lack of clarity regarding her current condition and legal status. «Macarena Chahuán, a Chilean journalist, was intercepted early this morning in international waters. Today, we do not have clear information regarding her condition or situation«, they remarked from the Chilean delegation’s Instagram account.
Demands are directed squarely at the Foreign Ministry. In the post, they requested «official information about her health status«, «clarity on her legal situation«, and «immediate consular protection«. Furthermore, they warned: «This is a violation of international law, and we demand immediate answers«.
In simple terms: the central issue is not merely that Israel has obstructed the advance of a flotilla towards Gaza, but that, according to the mission’s own complaint, the interception occurred in international waters, where no state can claim ownership over the seas or detain civilians without repercussions.
What will the Foreign Ministry do to ascertain Macarena Chahuán’s location, the conditions she is facing, and the legal justification Israel intends to use to hold her?
Chahuán’s situation also raises alarms for the rest of the Chilean delegation participating in the mission. As previously reported by El Ciudadano, seven Chileans were on board the Global Sumud Flotilla: Claudio Caiozzi, Macarena Chahuán, Carolina Eltit, Víctor Chanfreau, Franco Torti, Ignacio Ladrón de Guevara, and Bruno Salas Zarzar. Additionally, Felipe Uthman is participating via land in a humanitarian convoy seeking to reach Gaza through Egypt, to the Rafah crossing. Therefore, the Chilean presence is not marginal; it is part of an international action combining humanitarian aid, political denunciation, and active solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Macarena Chahuán and the Yaffa Ship
Macarena Chahuán embarked towards Gaza on the Yaffa, one of the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla. The name of the ship is not coincidental: Yaffa refers to the historic Palestinian city that was one of the main ports in the eastern Mediterranean.
Before 1948, Yaffa was home to over 70,000 Palestinians. Following the Nakba, the vast majority were expelled, leaving only a few thousand confined to a small area under military control. Over time, the city was annexed and renamed Tel Aviv-Yafo.
The reference hits close to home for Chile. From that very port, many Palestinians migrated to our country decades ago. Thus, the fact that a Chilean-Palestinian woman traveled on a boat named Yaffa towards Gaza is not just a symbolic detail; it connects memory, exile, solidarity, and a collective history marked by dispossession.
A Humanitarian Mission Under Attack in the Mediterranean
The Global Sumud Flotilla reported that Israeli forces intercepted vessels in the Mediterranean, blocked communications including rescue channels, and kidnapped civilians in international waters. In its statement, the organization termed the incidents as «piracy» and claimed that Israel’s actions signify a dangerous escalation, targeting unarmed civilians far from Gaza.
In a subsequent statement, the flotilla stated that over 180 civilians were directly attacked and that, after detaining participants, Israeli forces damaged boats, incapacitated engines, and left some crew members stranded as a storm approached.
This accusation is severe as it raises a question that transcends Macarena Chahuán’s situation. If a civil, humanitarian, and international mission can be intercepted at sea, cut off from communication, and boarded by a foreign military force, such a precedent directly undermines international law and the protection of journalists, activists, and human rights defenders.
Chile Must Act
The case of Macarena Chahuán places pressure on the Chilean state. A Chilean citizen was intercepted in international waters by Israeli forces while participating in a humanitarian mission towards Gaza. Her associates describe it as outright kidnapping and demand that the Foreign Ministry take action regarding the authorities in Israel.
«We need you to generate real pressure,” stated Bruno Salas, also a member of the flotilla. He also demanded, «to intercede with Israeli authorities regarding the kidnapping of @lamacachahuan in international waters«.
The Chilean journalist detained by Israel was not traveling on a military vessel nor participating in an armed operation. She was on a humanitarian flotilla seeking to break the blockade on Gaza and raise awareness of the Palestinian people’s situation. For this reason, the Chilean response cannot remain in diplomatic silence or vague statements.
The question now is straightforward: what will the Foreign Ministry do to determine Macarena Chahuán’s whereabouts, her current conditions, and under what legal premise Israel intends to detain her?
Because when a Chilean citizen is intercepted in international waters by a foreign force, the state cannot turn a blind eye. It must act, demand answers, and ensure her protection. This not only concerns Macarena’s safety but also the minimal defense of international law against Israeli impunity.
La entrada Israel Detains Chilean Journalist in International Waters While En Route to Gaza Humanitarian Mission se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.
🔥 Ver noticia completa en ElCiudadano.cl 🔥
