Freedom replaces uncertainty as the final five detainees board their flight out of Israel.
Madrid, October 2025. The last Spanish nationals held in Israel after the interception of the humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza have been released and are on their way back to Spain. Among them is activist Reyes Rigo, whose detention had drawn wide political and diplomatic attention in recent weeks.
According to Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the group’s departure concludes the repatriation process of all citizens detained following the naval operation. Officials confirmed that coordination between Spanish diplomats, Israeli authorities, and the International Committee of the Red Cross ensured the safe transfer of the remaining five activists.
Rigo’s release followed an agreement with the Israeli Prosecutor’s Office that included the payment of a fine and her formal deportation. Legal sources indicated that this resolution was reached after consultations involving the Spanish Embassy in Tel Aviv and international humanitarian observers. The decision brings to an end the only pending case from the flotilla incident that had occurred earlier this month in the eastern Mediterranean.
The Spanish government expressed satisfaction with the outcome and reiterated its support for humanitarian initiatives that operate within international law. Officials thanked the mediation efforts of European Union representatives and regional partners that helped secure the group’s return.
Witnesses reported that the activists left Tel Aviv airport under discreet security supervision before boarding a commercial flight to Madrid. Upon arrival, they are expected to undergo routine consular and medical checks. Family members and humanitarian organizations had campaigned intensively for their release, organizing demonstrations outside the Spanish Parliament and submitting appeals to international human rights bodies.
The flotilla, composed of multiple vessels carrying medical supplies and volunteers, had been intercepted by the Israeli navy near the maritime exclusion zone surrounding Gaza. Authorities justified the action as a security measure to prevent unauthorized entry, while participants claimed their mission was purely humanitarian.
The release of the last detainees closes a chapter that had strained diplomatic communications between Madrid and Jerusalem. Spanish officials emphasized that dialogue and cooperation prevailed over confrontation, avoiding a potential escalation of the dispute.
For the activists, the return home marks both relief and reflection. Several have declared their intention to continue humanitarian work through legal and diplomatic channels, citing the experience as proof of the risks faced by civilian missions in conflict zones.
As the aircraft carrying the final group crosses the Mediterranean, Spain’s foreign service considers the mission completed. After weeks of negotiations, what began as an act of protest ends with repatriation and the reaffirmation of a principle that transcends politics — the protection of its citizens abroad.
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