In statements to Lusa, Paulo Rangel confirmed that the two activists, both doctors, Maria Beatriz Bartilotti Matos and Gonçalo Reis Dias, were travelling to Istanbul, Turkey, on the early afternoon of 21 May, from where they will depart on 22 May to return to Portugal.

"They are well, although obviously quite affected by the situation experienced in recent days, particularly yesterday [Wednesday], but they are in good health," said the head of Portuguese diplomacy.

Prevented from communicating

Rangel said that the Portuguese ambassador and consul in Tel Aviv tried to speak with Portuguese citizens outside the detention centre in Israel, but were prevented by Israeli authorities, which prompted a protest from Portugal.

“The Israeli authorities claimed that the need to expedite the deportation meant that there could be no such contact. We protested,” he said.

Later, at the airport, the Portuguese consul managed to speak with the two activists.

Families contacted

The Minister said that the families of the two citizens have already been contacted and that the Portuguese ambassador to Turkey and her deputy “will be waiting for the Portuguese in Istanbul and will accompany them until tomorrow [22 May], they board very early in the morning for Portugal.”

“The Government is closely monitoring all of this,” said Paulo Rangel.

Against the arrest

On 18 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs announced to Lusa that he had summoned the Israeli ambassador in Lisbon to protest against the detention of the activists, “in violation of international law,” as it occurred in international waters.

The Israeli Armed Forces intercepted, between 18 and 19 May, in international waters, the approximately 50 boats of the humanitarian flotilla, which were attempting to reach the Gaza Strip with about 430 activists on board.

Israeli authorities announced that the activists began to be deported on 21 May.

This arrest is being marked by controversial images of the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, humiliating dozens of activists, which has prompted protests from several European capitals.