Family reports disappearance of Brazilian in humanitarian flotilla intercepted by Israel

The family of Miguel Viveiros de Castro, a Brazilian who was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, reported this Thursday (2) the disappearance of the young man after the humanitarian mission was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. The flotilla brought food and medicine to the population of the Gaza Strip, under blockade and in a serious humanitarian crisis.

According to the family’s report, Miguel maintained a strict communication protocol during the trip: he had to send messages every ten minutes and, in case of arrest, discard his cell phone at sea. The crew members also had previously recorded videos, in which they identified themselves and claimed to be being detained by Israel. These records would be triggered automatically as a form of protection. However, in Miguel’s case, no video was sent and contact suddenly ceased.

“In the published lists, he appears as ‘possibly intercepted’. But this word does not hold water. Of the 15 Brazilians who were on the flotilla, 13 appear as kidnapped. Two do not appear — and Miguel is one of them”, says the note released by his family. “There is no ‘possibly’: either it was intercepted or it wasn’t. And everything indicates that it was, because Miguel maintained contact with absolute discipline until the moment he disappeared.”

The family claims to be in direct contact with Itamaraty and demands official information about Miguel’s whereabouts. “We want answers, not hypotheses. We want concrete and official information about what happened. With every hour that passes without news, the despair of family, friends and everyone who follows this tragedy grows”, say the relatives.

The document classifies the lack of information as “devastating” and demands that the disappearance be formally recognized by Brazilian authorities. Furthermore, it demands immediate action from the federal government and international organizations to clarify the case, denounce the attack on the flotilla and hold Israel responsible for the arrest and disappearance of Brazilian citizens.

“We will not accept the word ‘possibly’. We will not accept complicit neutrality. We demand action, denunciation and truth”, concludes the note.

So far, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has only reported that it is monitoring the situation of detained Brazilians and is in contact with Israeli authorities, but has not confirmed Miguel’s location.