"A fourth Portuguese citizen has been confirmed as part of the flotilla, who was traveling on the boat 'Selvaggia,'" an official source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) told Lusa.

The MNE added that it is awaiting authorization from the family members, who have contacted the Consular Emergency Office, to possibly release the identity of this Portuguese citizen.

Maria Elena Delia, spokesperson for the Italian activist group participating in the humanitarian action "Global Sumud" (Global Resistance, in Arabic), stated today that 39 ships in the flotilla were intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces, with some smaller vessels also heading for the Gaza Strip, which are expected to meet the same fate.

According to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the crews were taken to the port of Ashdod and held in specific detention centers, where they can accept immediate voluntary expulsion or reject it and await a court decision.

Among those detained are the deputy and leader of the Left Bloc, actress Sofia Aparício, and activist Miguel Duarte.

According to a statement from Israeli diplomacy posted on social media, the members of the humanitarian flotilla who were arrested "are safe and well."

The same statement indicates that Israel will begin deportation procedures to Europe after the detainees are transferred to Israeli territory.

The Prime Minister said today that he hopes that the Portuguese citizens detained by Israel will be able to return to the country "without any incident," considering that the humanitarian flotilla's message has been conveyed.

The humanitarian flotilla, made up of around 50 vessels (including one flying the Portuguese flag), left Spain at the end of August with the aim of breaking the Israeli blockade and delivering supplies to the Gaza Strip, an initiative rejected by Tel Aviv, which argues that the action is supported by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.