Israel deported two activists — Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila — after detaining them aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters. The activists were part of the second Global Sumud Flotilla that left Spain on April 12 and were intercepted on April 29. Israel accused Abu Keshek of ties to a terrorist organisation and Avila of illegal activity; both deny the claims and say they were on a humanitarian mission. The incident comes amid the ongoing Gaza war that followed Hamas's October 7 attack and growing concerns about slow aid deliveries.
Israel Deports Two Activists Seized From Gaza-Bound Flotilla After Detention At Sea
FILE PHOTO: Brazilian Activist Thiago Avila, who was detained aboard the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, appears at a court in Beersheba, southern Israel May 6, 2026. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
Israel has deported two activists — Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national, and Thiago Avila, a Brazilian — after detaining them aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on May 10.
Background
The pair were part of the second Global Sumud Flotilla, which departed from Spain on April 12 with the stated aim of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and attempting to challenge Israel's blockade. Israeli authorities say the activists were intercepted on April 29 in international waters and subsequently brought to Israel before being deported on May 10.
FILE PHOTO: Activist Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national, who was detained aboard the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, appears at a court in Beersheba, southern Israel May 6, 2026. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
Allegations And Response
Israel's Foreign Ministry said Abu Keshek was suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation and that Avila was suspected of illegal activity. Both men denied the allegations, saying they were on a humanitarian mission to assist Gaza's civilian population and that their arrest in international waters was unlawful.
Context
Gaza is largely governed by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which Israel and many Western countries designate as a terrorist organisation. The October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel triggered the Gaza war, leaving large areas of the enclave devastated and many residents homeless and reliant on aid. Humanitarian agencies say necessary assistance is arriving too slowly amid ongoing security and access challenges.
Reporting: Tala Ramadan and Maayan Lubell; Editing by Kim Coghill and Thomas Derpinghaus.
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