Two flotilla activists say they have been subjected to 'extreme brutality' in Israeli detention

TWO ACTIVISTS FROM the latest Gaza-bound flotilla who were brought to Israel for interrogation appeared before an Israeli court today, a rights group defending them told the AFP news agency.

The flotilla of more than 50 vessels had set sail from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking an Israeli blockade of Gaza and bringing supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory.

They were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece early on Thursday, with Israel saying it had removed some 175 activists – two of whom were taken to Israel for questioning.

Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila appeared before a court in Ashkelon on Sunday.

Spain’s foreign ministry called for the “immediate release” of Abu Keshek.

“The government of Spain demands his immediate release,” the ministry said in a comment sent to AFP, adding that the Spanish consul in Tel Aviv accompanied Saif Abu Keshek, who is being “illegally detained”, to the hearing. 

“The court extended their detention by two days,” Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at the rights group Adalah, told AFP.

Adalah said the state attorney had presented a list of suspected offences committed by the pair, including “assisting the enemy during wartime” and “membership in and providing services to a terrorist organisation”.

But Adalah’s lawyers challenged the state’s jurisdiction, arguing against the “unlawful abduction” of the two activists in international waters.

Its lawyers told the court Avila and Abu Keshek had testified to “severe physical abuse amounting to torture, including being beaten and held in isolation and blindfolded for days at sea”.

No formal charges were filed against the two, it said.

“We argued that … they were part of a humanitarian mission that aimed to provide humanitarian aid to the civilians in Gaza, and not to any other organisation, whether terrorist or not,” lawyer Hadeel Abu Salih told journalists after the hearing.

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“We deny all the accusations that were presented… and demand these two men be released immediately,” she said.

On Saturday, Adalah said its lawyers had met the two detained activists at Shikma Prison in Ashkelon.

Avila told the lawyers he had been “subjected to extreme brutality” when the vessels were seized, adding that he was “dragged face-down across the floor and beaten so severely that he passed out twice”.

Since arriving in Israel, he said he had been “kept in isolation and blindfolded,” according to Adalah.

Abu Keshek was also “hand-tied and blindfolded … and forced to lie face-down on the floor from the moment of his seizure” until reaching Israel, the group said.

Israel’s foreign ministry said the two activists were affiliated with an organisation that was sanctioned by the US Treasury.

That group – the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) – has been accused by Washington of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israel’s foreign ministry said Abu Keshek was a leading member of the PCPA, and that Avila was also linked to the organisation and “suspected of illegal activity”.

Spain has condemned the detention of Avila and rejected the Israeli accusation against him.

Organisers of the latest flotilla said the Israeli interception took place more than 1,000 kilometres from Gaza and their equipment was smashed, leaving them facing a “calculated death trap at sea”.

Dozens of intercepted activists disembarked on Friday at the Greek island of Crete, according to an AFP journalist.

The Global Sumud Flotilla’s first Mediterranean voyage to Gaza in the summer and autumn of 2025 drew worldwide attention, before Israeli forces intercepted the boats off the coasts of Egypt and Gaza in early October.

Crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were arrested and expelled by Israeli forces.

- © AFP 2026