ASHKELON: An Israeli court has decided to keep two foreign activists in custody for two more days. These activists were part of a Gaza-bound flotilla and were brought to Israel for questioning, according to the rights group representing them.
The flotilla, which included over 50 boats that set off from France, Spain, and Italy, aimed to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver essential supplies to the area.
Israeli forces intercepted the ships in international waters near Greece early Thursday. Israel reported that they had detained about 175 activists, two of whom were sent to Israel for further questioning.
The two activists, Spanish citizen Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila, appeared in an Ashkelon court on Sunday. Miriam Azem from the rights group Adalah confirmed to the AFP that the court extended their detention for two more days.
Israeli authorities wanted an additional four days of detention, but Azem reported that the court settled for two. In a statement, Adalah revealed that the state’s attorney alleged the activists committed offenses such as “assisting the enemy during wartime” and “membership in a terrorist organization.” However, Adalah challenged these claims, pointing out that the activists were captured in international waters.
The group’s lawyers mentioned that both activists had reported suffering from severe abuse, which they described as torture. They claimed to have been beaten and held in isolation while blindfolded for days.
No formal charges have been made against Avila and Abu Keshek. The group added that both men are currently on a hunger strike, protesting their unlawful detention and mistreatment.
Lawyers from Adalah visited the two activists at Shikma Prison in Ashkelon on Saturday. During the visit, Avila described the intense brutality he faced during the seizure, claiming he was beaten to the point of losing consciousness twice. He also stated that after arriving in Israel, he was kept in isolation and blindfolded.
Abu Keshek reported similar treatment, saying he was tied up and forced to lie face down from the moment he was captured until his arrival in Israel.
Allegations of Illegal Activity
Israel’s foreign ministry claims the two men are linked to the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), which the U.S. accuses of secretly acting for Hamas, a Palestinian group. They alleged that Abu Keshek is a prominent member of this organization and that Avila is also connected and suspected of illegal activities.
Spain has rejected these accusations against Abu Keshek and condemned his detention as illegal. Organizers of the flotilla stated that the interception occurred over 1,000 kilometers from Gaza and that their equipment was destroyed, putting them in a “calculated death trap at sea.”
Many of the activists who were intercepted were disembarked on the Greek island of Crete last Friday. The Global Sumud Flotilla’s mission to Gaza last year gained international attention before it too was intercepted by Israeli forces.
Israel controls all access points to Gaza, which has been under blockade since 2007. This has resulted in critical supply shortages in the Palestinian territory, especially during times of conflict when Israel sometimes halts aid completely.
