Four arrested by Ertzaintza at pro-Palestine flotilla reception in Bilbao
The Ertzaintza arrested four people as members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, who had been expelled from Israel, arrived at Loiu airport. Internal Affairs opened an investigation into police conduct.
Incidents at Loiu following flotilla arrival from Turkey
According to ABC, the Ertzaintza arrested four people on Friday afternoon during altercations at Loiu airport in Bilbao upon the arrival of members of the Global Sumud Flotilla from Turkey, who had been expelled from Israel on 18 May. The detainees were accused of serious disobedience, resistance and assault on police authority.
The Department of Security, led by councillor Bingen Zupiria, stated that the arrival had not been previously communicated to the regional police and coincided with an influx of supporters to San Mamés stadium, where the Rugby Champions Cup finals were being held. Several demonstrators waiting for the travellers "obstructed" passage and confronted officers, who used their regulation batons with no serious injuries recorded, according to the same source.
Videos shared on social media showed officers charging at part of the gathering. Following the images, the Ertzaintza's Internal Affairs directorate opened an investigation to determine "whether the conduct of the officers complies with current instructions", as communicated by the Department of Security. The councillor also requested an urgent appearance next Tuesday before the Basque Parliament's Commission on Institutions, Public Governance and Security.
Three of the four detainees were released pending trial. Shortly after the arrests, several dozen people staged a sit-in outside the facilities demanding their release.
EH Bildu demands Zupiria's urgent appearance
EH Bildu called for the release of those arrested and demanded an urgent appearance by the Security councillor in the Basque Parliament. "EH Bildu strongly denounces the harsh action by the Ertzaintza against members of the Global Sumud Flotilla and against people who came to Loiu airport to show their solidarity with them," said the party led by Arnaldo Otegi, adding that "it falls to us to place solidarity with Palestine and the solidarity and emancipatory character of Euskal Herria front and centre".
The Gernika Palestina - Herri Ekimena platform, close to EH Bildu and whose spokesperson is former ETA member Ibon Meñika, had organised a welcoming rally at Loiu from the previous Friday which was eventually delayed. This Saturday, another platform linked to EH Bildu dissidence, 'Palestinarekin Elkartasun', associated with groups such as Indar Gorri, Herri Norte, Bultzada and Iraultza, called on its supporters to gather outside Deusto police station in protest at the arrests.
Police unions defend officers
The Department of Security informed the Basque Country Police Control and Transparency Commission of the events. "The Security councillor and the department heads regret what happened and are committed to providing a response: we will try to clarify the incidents that occurred and any responsibilities that may be derived as soon as possible," the official statement said.
Police unions took the opposite position. The SIPE described Zupiria's moves as "political cowardice" and defended the conduct of its officers: "It is intolerable that those who fulfil their professional obligation are immediately singled out and subjected to parallel trials without knowing the context of the intervention," and warned of the "growing climate of hostility that certain groups foster against the Ertzaintza". The Esan union, meanwhile, said that "the Ertzaintza acted with professionalism, restraint and firmness" and attributed the altercations to a "sought confrontation" aimed at turning the police intervention into "political propaganda and media victimhood".
The Palestinian cause has become one of the main axes of mobilisation for the abertzale left in the Basque Country, a setting already marked by other recent disturbances linked to gatherings of this political current, such as those recorded during the Tour de France's arrival in Bilbao.
Source: ABC