Mexico Demands Answers as Israel Frees Detained Humanitarians
Six Mexican nationals, including Ernesto Ledesma, director of Rompeviento TV, have been released and repatriated to Mexico after being detained for six days in Israel. They were heading to Gaza aboard the Global Sumud flotilla to deliver humanitarian aid when they were kidnapped and allegedly mistreated.
Ernesto Ledesma reported severe mistreatment during his detention. He claimed he was physically tortured, with his arms twisted and shoulders laid down, and was incommunicado. His sister, Mayra Ledesma, confirmed these allegations, stating that Ernesto was hit in the back and his arms were pulled hard, causing lower back pain. David Peña, their legal advisor, also reported that Ernesto was beaten during his detention.
Despite these allegations, the Israeli embassy in Mexico denied any mistreatment, insisting that all legal rights were respected. The Mexican ambassador to Israel, Mauricio Escanero, accompanied the released nationals back to Mexico. Mayra Ledesma thanked everyone who supported her brother and the ambassador for his work, despite being mistreated himself.
The six Mexican nationals are now in Jordan and are generally well, according to Ernesto Ledesma. Their release follows six days of detention after they were kidnapped while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Israeli embassy has denied allegations of mistreatment, but the Mexican nationals and their legal advisor have reported severe physical and psychological torture.
