After the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, Minister for Foreign Affairs Xavier Bettel confirmed that residents of Luxembourg were on board the vessels and criticised Israel’s actions.
Speaking before the Chamber of Deputies on Thursday, Bettel stated that two Luxembourg residents – a French and an Italian national – are currently travelling with the flotilla. According to officials from the Luxembourg Movement for Gaza, one of the intercepted ships carried a 37-year-old Italian citizen who resides in Luxembourg.
Israeli forces stopped more than 20 aid vessels in international waters, reportedly off the coast of Greece. In response, Bettel sharply criticised Israel’s actions, telling the Chamber that the Luxembourg government had made clear to Israeli authorities that the Grand Duchy expects full respect for international law. On the same day, Germany and Italy also called on Israel to uphold international law.
Unlike the case of Luxembourg national Nora Fellens Huberty, who was intercepted while travelling with the same flotilla in 2025 and later detained by Israeli authorities, the Italian national and other activists affected by the recent interception were taken to Crete. The pro-Palestinian activists aim to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the area.
Bettel also expressed frustration that European states have yet to reach a majority in favour of sanctions against Israel. He noted that even discussions about a joint initiative limited to Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands remain "complex", adding that Lebanon is on its way to becoming a "second Gaza."
