Israeli Court Upholds Detention of Two Activists Seized From Gaza-Bound Flotilla

An Israeli court on Wednesday rejected an appeal to overturn the detention of two foreign activists who were taken by Israeli forces from a Gaza-bound flotilla intercepted in international waters off the coast of Greece, a decision the rights group representing them called "unlawful."

Who Are The Detainees? Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila were among dozens aboard the flotilla that was intercepted last Thursday. Israeli forces brought the two men to Israel for questioning, while other activists were transported to the Greek island of Crete and released.

Court Hearing And Detention Extension On Tuesday, an Israeli court extended the men’s detention until Sunday to allow police more time to question them, their lawyers said. The lawyers appealed that decision at the Beersheva district court, which rejected the appeal and left the detention extension in place.

"Today, the district court of Beersheva denied our appeal and basically accepted all of the arguments that the state or the police have represented before the court and kept the previous decision," lawyer Hadeel Abu Salih said.

An AFP journalist who attended the hearing reported that both activists, who said they are on a hunger strike, appeared in court with their feet shackled. Abu Keshek reportedly looked exhausted and sat with his hands clasped, while Avila appeared calm.

Allegations Of Illegal Seizure And Mistreatment Abu Salih and the rights group Adalah, which represents the pair, described the arrest as "illegal," saying it occurred in international waters when the activists were seized from an Italian-flagged vessel. Adalah argued that being taken from an Italian-flagged ship places the activists under Italian jurisdiction and called the court ruling "unlawful and unreasonable."

Adalah has alleged ongoing mistreatment in detention, including claims that Avila was held in a cold cell and that both men have been interrogated for most of each day. Abu Salih also said Abu Keshek reported refusing both food and water. Israeli authorities have denied allegations of abuse.

Security Accusations And International Reaction At the time of the hearing, Israeli authorities had not filed formal charges. Adalah said authorities accused the pair of "assisting the enemy during wartime" and of "membership in and providing services to a terrorist organisation." Israel has said both men were affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), a group the United States has accused of acting on behalf of Hamas.

Spain, Brazil and the United Nations have urged the activists' swift release. "It is not a crime to show solidarity and attempt to bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population in Gaza, who are in dire need of it," UN rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement.

Background The flotilla had set sail from France, Spain and Italy aiming to challenge Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged territory. Israel controls all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.

Reporting by agencies; details on allegations and jurisdiction remain contested between rights groups and Israeli authorities.