Israel Detains Two Activists from Gaza Flotilla Incident

Two activists from the Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla, Saif Abu Keshek of Spain and Thiago Avila of Brazil, remain detained by Israel. The two men were among 175 activists intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece on April 12.

Abu Keshek, a Spanish-Swedish national of Palestinian origin, has been organizing Palestinian solidarity movements across Europe for over 20 years. He was abducted from the flotilla and transferred to Shikma Prison in Ashkelon, Israel. According to reports, Abu Keshek was subjected to physical violence during his detention, including being hand-tied and blindfolded.

Avila, a socio-environmentalist from Brazil, has been on hunger strike since his detention. He also reported experiencing extreme brutality during the seizure of the vessels, including being dragged face-down across the floor and beaten severely.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail from France, Spain, and Italy on April 12, aimed to break an Israeli blockade of Gaza and bring supplies to the Palestinian territory. The blockade has been in place since 2005, with Israel tightening its control over what enters and leaves the enclave since October 7, 2023.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez delivered a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, stating that Spain would protect its citizens and defend international law. The detention of Abu Keshek has prompted protests and condemnation from rights groups and governments, including Turkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which described the action as an “act of piracy”.

Source: Al Jazeera