A Bulgarian citizen, part of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, is among those detained by Israel, according to a post on the official social media channel of the flotilla. The Israeli Navy intercepted boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla.

''My name is Vasil Dimitrov and I come from Sofia, Bulgaria. If you are watching this video, I have been kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces and brought to Israel against my will. Tell my government to stop its complicity with Israel and bring me home. Stop the genocide in Gaza!'', says the Bulgarian national in the footage that has been released.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been closely following the events surrounding the Global Sumud Flotilla since departure, the ministry announced. ''The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed the Israeli authorities that among the foreign nationals aboard one of the ships in the flotilla, there is a Bulgarian citizen. The Bulgarian Embassy in Tel Aviv has requested consular access to the Bulgarian citizen, as well as assurances that his rights will be respected'', the statement said.

 ''The participants themselves are aware that martial law has been declared in Israel, so the risk is understood and taken consciously. We will have more information when our consul visits Vasil Dimitrov'', commented Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov from Copenhagen.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it will deport to Europe all activists who were on board the flotilla ships intercepted by the Israeli Navy, BNR reported.

Published and translated by Kostadin Atanasov

Photo: EPA/BGNES