Mexico Confirms Mexican Women Kidnapped from Sumud Flotilla by israel are in Detention

ByAlonso Urrutia and Néstor Jiménez

This article by Alonso Urrutia and Néstor Jiménez originally appeared in the May 19, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Mexico City. Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said that the situation of Mexicans traveling on the aid flotillas to Palestine that have been intercepted by the israeli government, as well as those en route there, is being closely monitored.

In a brief report at the presidential press conference, Velasco said that he has already met with the families of Sol Gonzáles, Violeta Muñoz and Paulina Castillo who were traveling to Palestine and were detained.

Mexico has requested that their human rights be respected and that they be released as soon as possible so that they can return to Mexico.

Velasco commented that he has been in contact with Mexican embassies in the region, not only in israel, but also in Greece and Turkey, to follow up on this situation, as there are other vessels carrying other Mexicans.

Velasco stated that Mexico has asked israel not only to respect the human rights of its citizens but also to respect international law, because they are in international waters. A communication mechanism has been established between embassies and consulates in the region to identify where the detainees, who are of various nationalities, are being taken.

The first three Mexican citizens were transferred to a detention center in israel, where they will face a process for which Mexico has requested dignified and respectful treatment, the foreign minister added.