Israel Deports Two Activists from Gaza Aid Flotilla After Week-Long Detention

Israel has deported two activists seized from a Gaza-bound flotilla after holding them for a week in the southern city of Ashkelon.

Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila were taken to Israel when the Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of 22 boats and about 175 activists, was intercepted last week in international waters near Crete, hundreds of nautical miles from Gaza. The rest of the activists were taken to Crete and released.

Adalah, the rights group representing the pair, called their detention unlawful and said Israel's accusations against them lacked basis.

Israel's foreign ministry stated on X early Sunday that authorities finished their investigation and confirmed the deportations.

Hadeel Abu Salih, an Adalah lawyer who co-represented the activists, said their detention "was a sham proceeding with no legal basis, intended to punish them for attempting to challenge Israel's illegal blockade on Gaza."

She added that transferring the pair to Israeli custody amounted to "a clear violation of international law" and that they endured ill-treatment in custody. The foreign ministry denied those claims.

Adalah said the men faced psychological abuse during their detention, including long interrogations, constant bright lights in their cells, full isolation, and blindfolded transfers, even for medical checks.

After the flotilla was taken to Israel, a court extended their detention by six days on Tuesday. Lawyers appealed the next day, but the court rejected it.

The Global Sumud Flotilla issued a statement Saturday after the release announcement. It demanded explanations from the European Union, especially Greece, for days of silence and complicity. The group also called for immediate sanctions against Israel over the illegal abduction and ongoing violations of international law and Palestinian human rights.

The two men began a hunger strike at the start of their detention. Abu Keshek also refused water from May 5, according to Adalah.

Israel blocked a prior Global Sumud Flotilla from Gaza last October. Authorities arrested and deported more than 470 people on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.