Israeli Court Extends Detention of Two Pro-Palestinian Activists from Gaza Aid Flotilla

An Israeli court extended the detention of two pro-Palestinian activists seized from a flotilla carrying aid for Gaza last Thursday, a rights group representing them said.

The activists, Thiago Ávila and Saif Abu Keshek, were among about 175 people detained when Israeli forces intercepted 22 boats in international waters near Greece. The others were later released on the island of Crete.

Israel said Abu Keshek is suspected of affiliation with a terrorist group and Ávila of illegal activity. Spain and Brazil called their detention illegal and demanded their release.

Hadeel Abu Salih, a lawyer with the group who represented the pair at Tuesday's hearing, told reporters: "We made it clear before the court today that, first of all, we are talking about an illegal detention that must end now."

"We are talking about two foreign nationals that were arrested in international waters approximately a thousand kilometres from Gaza and brought into Israel against their will."

"Both Thiago and Saif are kept in isolation since they were moved to the custody of the Israeli prison services, and are blindfolded each time they are taken out of the cell, even when they go through a medical procedure," she added.

She described the detentions as an attempt by Israeli authorities "to criminalise any solidarity with the Palestinian people and any attempt to break the illegal siege on Gaza".

Israel insisted that the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla and the detention of dozens of participants complied with international law. The foreign ministry said last week that the flotilla was a "PR stunt" and that Israeli forces had acted "to prevent the breach of a lawful blockade".

The ministry said Abu Keshek was taken to Israel for questioning because he was "a leading member" of the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad and that Ávila "operates with" the group and is suspected of illegal activity.

Israel and the United States have accused the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad of being a front for the Palestinian armed group Hamas and designated it as a terrorist organization.

Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said the allegations against the two men are baseless and accused Israel of acts of piracy under international law.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said holding Ávila was "an unjustifiable action by the Israeli government, causes great concern, and must be condemned by all".

"The detention of the flotilla activists in international waters had already represented a serious affront to international law," he wrote on X on Tuesday.