Mexico Condemns Interception in International Waters of Global Sumud Flotilla

ByEmir Olivares Alonso

This article by Emir Olivares Alonso originally appeared in the May 5, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Mexico City. The Mexican government expressed its “deep and strong objection” to israel’s interception in international waters of the second Global Sumud Flotilla, which was headed for Gaza.

Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo stressed that this act “constitutes a flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of international law, including international human rights law, and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.”

Mexican activist and photographer Abril Rojas was traveling on one of the boats seized last Wednesday by Benjamin Netanyahu’s regime in international waters near Greece.

Upon announcing that the Mexican national was repatriated to Mexico over the weekend, the Foreign Ministry emphasized that, through the appropriate diplomatic channels, it has conveyed to israel, “with the utmost firmness, that the rights of the crew members be respected, that their physical and mental well-being be guaranteed, and the right to free transit.”

The agency headed by Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco announced this afternoon that over the weekend, the Director General of Consular Protection, Vanessa Calva, received at the Mexico City International Airport the Mexican national who was traveling on one of the vessels intercepted by israeli authorities on the high seas in violation of the legal principle of freedom of navigation.

He explained that the Mexican ambassador to Greece, Alejandro García Moreno, assisted the Mexican woman in that country and, in coordination with the Mexican consul in Istanbul, Alberto Fierro Garza, she was repatriated to national territory, where she reunited with her family.

“We appreciate the efforts of the Greek and Turkish authorities in supporting the repatriation of our citizen. She will be provided with the necessary support and assistance in light of the events that occurred, with full respect for and safeguarding of her fundamental rights,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

He added that Mexico’s diplomatic missions in the region remain in contact with the other seven Mexican nationals who were not intercepted and were part of the flotilla. “So far, they are reported to be doing well.”