\n<\/p>\n
Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares\u00a0expressed concern about the \u2018illegal detention\u2019 of Saif Abukeshek and asserted that he was \u2018kidnapped\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Madrid has demanded the release of a Spanish citizen who was arrested during a raid on a flotilla headed for Gaza and taken to Israel for \u201cquestioning\u201d.<\/p>\n Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares\u00a0told Catalan radio station RAC1 on Saturday that he was concerned about the \u201cillegal detention\u201d of Saif Abukeshek, and called for him to be \u201creleased immediately\u201d.<\/p>\n list of 3 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n Abukeshek, a Spanish-Swedish national of Palestinian origin, was among activists detained as Israeli military forces raided the Global Sumud Flotilla\u00a0off the coast of Crete earlier this week.<\/p>\n He was one of two men, alongside Brazilian Thiago Avila, then taken to Israel on Friday for \u201cquestioning\u201d. Israel claims the two have ties to Hamas.<\/p>\n Albares said that the arrest was made \u201coutside the jurisdiction of Israel\u201d, adding, \u201cOf course, it is a kidnapping.\u201d<\/p>\n The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Abukeshek is a leading member of the Palestinian National Conference Abroad, which the United States says<\/a> operates at the behest of Hamas.<\/p>\n However, the Spanish diplomat insisted that \u201cIsrael has not put on the table any evidence about Abukeshek\u2019s relationship with Hamas\u201d.<\/p>\n The Israeli navy stormed 22 of the flotilla boats attempting to deliver aid to Gaza while they were in international waters, hundreds of miles from the strip. Drones and communications-jamming technology were used. They detained 175 of those on board and took them to Greece, except for Abukeshek and Avila.<\/p>\n Albares said that the Spanish consul in Greece had \u201chad to go to the hospital because several activists needed medical assistance\u201d.<\/p>\n The Spanish consul in Tel Aviv was being allowed to see Abukeshek on Saturday, the minister said.<\/p>\nRecommended Stories <\/h2>\n
\u2018Harrowing testimonies\u2019<\/h3>\n