An Israeli court extended the detention of two foreign activists, Saif Abu Keshek of Spain and Thiago Avila of Brazil, after they were seized when a Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted off Greece. Adalah alleges the men suffered severe mistreatment and calls their removal from international waters unlawful; Israel rejects the torture claims and says the pair have ties to the PCPA. No formal charges have been filed, and Spain has demanded Abu Keshek's immediate release.
Israeli Court Extends Detention Of Two Gaza-Flotilla Activists As Abuse Allegations Surface
Brazilian flotilla activist Thiago Avila appeared before an Israel court, with his detention extended by two days (Ilia YEFIMOVICH)(Ilia YEFIMOVICH/AFP/AFP)
An Israeli court on Sunday ordered a two-day extension of detention for two foreign activists who were taken to Israel for questioning after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters off Greece, their legal representatives said.
What Happened
The flotilla, made up of more than 50 vessels that departed from France, Spain and Italy, aimed to challenge Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian supplies. Israeli forces say they removed around 175 activists from the convoy; two were transported to Israel: Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila.
AFP footage showed the pair entering a court in Ashkelon: Avila walking with his hands behind his back and Abu Keshek with his feet shackled. "The court extended their detention by two days," Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at rights group Adalah, told AFP.
Allegations and Legal Arguments
Adalah said the state attorney presented a list of alleged offences, including "assisting the enemy during wartime" and "membership in and providing services to a terrorist organisation." Adalah's lawyers challenged Israel's jurisdiction over the arrests and described the activists' removal from international waters as an "unlawful abduction."
Adalah reported that both men testified to "severe physical abuse amounting to torture," alleging they were beaten, held in isolation and blindfolded for days at sea.
Israel's foreign ministry strongly rejected the allegations. Spokesman Oren Marmorstein told AFP: "Contrary to the false and baseless claims prepared in advance, at no point were Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila subjected to torture." He added that Israeli staff acted in accordance with the law after what he described as "violent physical obstruction" by the activists.
International Reaction And Context
No formal charges had been filed against the two men, Adalah said. The Israeli foreign ministry accused them of ties to the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), which the United States has accused of clandestinely acting on behalf of Hamas; it said Abu Keshek was a leading PCPA member and that Avila was linked to the group and "suspected of illegal activity."
Spain called for Abu Keshek's "immediate release" and the Spanish consul attended the hearing. Adalah's lawyers said Avila described being "dragged face-down across the floor and beaten so severely that he passed out twice," while Abu Keshek was allegedly hand-tied, blindfolded and forced to lie face-down from seizure until arrival in Israel.
Avila was an organiser of last year's Global Sumud Flotilla, which drew international attention when it was intercepted; some crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were arrested and expelled. Israel controls Gaza's entry points and has maintained a blockade since 2007. During the Gaza war there have been severe shortages of essential supplies and periods when aid was cut off.
Next Steps: The two-day extension gives Israeli authorities additional time to question the activists while their lawyers press jurisdictional and human-rights challenges. Further hearings and potential charges may follow.
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