Israel Summons Spanish Diplomat Over Police Violence Against Flotilla Activists

Israel summoned Spain’s chargé d’affaires in Tel Aviv on Sunday for a clarification meeting after videos showed Spanish police using force against pro-flotilla activists who had returned from Israeli detention.

The Foreign Ministry said Ambassador Yossi Amrani, head of the ministry’s diplomatic division, summoned Francesca Pedros on the orders of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. The ministry said the meeting followed the publication of videos and images showing “severe violence” by Spanish police against flotilla provocateurs.

We demand an explanation from the Spanish government regarding its treatment of the flotilla anarchists pic.twitter.com/k2bbkKq7tm

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) May 23, 2026

Amrani accused Spain of hypocrisy, saying the Spanish government “sends its provocateurs to Israel” and then condemned Israel for taking lawful action to enforce a legal maritime blockade, while Spanish police used severe violence against the same flotilla participants.

He demanded to know why, nearly 24 hours after the airport clashes, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his ministers had not condemned the conduct of Spanish police. The ministry said Spanish officials are quick to condemn Israel “at every pretext,” but had not spoken out over the police response in Spain.

Amrani also told Pedros that Spanish authorities had faced only provocations by some of the flotilla participants, while Israel had faced more serious provocations from hundreds of participants during each of the last six flotillas. Even so, Israel said, Spanish authorities used “severe violence” that Israel had not used.

The incident took place at Bilbao Airport after six activists arrived from Türkiye following their deportation from Israel. Supporters gathered to welcome them, and clashes broke out with Basque riot police. Footage showed officers using batons and dragging people across the floor. Four people were reportedly arrested.

Basque authorities said the arrests involved serious disobedience, resisting police and assaulting officers. Basque Security Minister Bingen Zupiria expressed regret over the incident and said it would be reviewed, while also citing provocations and shoving by some activists.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry had already mocked Spain publicly on X after the clashes yesterday.

“We demand an explanation from the Spanish government regarding its treatment of the flotilla anarchists,” the ministry wrote.

In another post, the ministry said, “The flotilla anarchists are driving the Spanish police crazy.”

The ministry also raised the case of Spanish citizen Saif Abu Keshek, a flotilla activist whom Israel says has ties to Hamas. Amrani demanded an explanation for why Spain had not acted against him.

Abu Keshek was sanctioned last week by the U.S. Treasury, which described him as a Spain-based member of the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad and said the group was established with Hamas funding.

Spain had previously condemned Israel’s detention of flotilla activists and summoned Israel’s envoy over Abu Keshek’s detention. Spanish officials called Israel’s conduct unacceptable, while Israel said it was enforcing a lawful naval blockade.