Israel is releasing two foreign activists detained after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and is preparing to deport them in the coming days, lawyers and rights representatives say. The detainees are Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian national. According to multiple reports, Israeli forces detained the pair in international waters off the coast of Greece near the end of April, along with dozens of other activists aboard the flotilla. Several sources say the activists were first held in Greece before being transferred to Israeli custody. Rights groups representing the men say they are held by Israel’s security authorities, and that the pair are later handed to Israel’s immigration authorities pending deportation. Multiple outlets report that Spain, Brazil and the United Nations called for their swift release. The outlets also state that Israeli authorities have not filed charges against the men, while Israel has previously rejected allegations of abuse. One rights group claims the activists experienced isolation and punitive conditions while detained and were on hunger strike, allegations Israel disputes.
Israel deports two Gaza flotilla activists after releasing them from detention
Israel is releasing two foreign activists detained after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and is preparing to deport them in the coming days, lawyers and rights representatives say...
- Israel detains two activists, Saif Abu Keshek (Spanish, Palestinian origin) and Thiago Ávila (Brazilian), after intercepting a Gaza-bound flotilla.
- The flotilla is reportedly stopped in international waters off the coast of Greece; other activists are also taken into custody.
- The two activists are released from Israeli security detention and are expected to be handed to Israeli immigration authorities for deportation.
- Sources report the pair are to be released around Saturday and deported in the following days, according to their lawyers or representatives.
- No charges are reported to have been filed against the men; Israel rejects allegations of abuse cited by rights groups.
Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were among dozens of activists sailing with the flotilla.
3 months agoIsrael deported on Sunday two foreign activists seized from a Gaza-bound flotilla, in what a rights group representing them described as a "punitive attack" on a civilian mission.Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were among dozens of activists aboard a flotilla intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters off the coast of Greece on April 30.The pair were seized and brought to Israel for questioning, while the others were taken to the Greek island of Crete and released.
3 months agoIsrael deported two foreign activists on Sunday seized from a Gaza-bound flotilla, with a rights group representing them describing their seizure and detention as a "punitive attack" on a civilian mission.Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were among dozens of activists aboard a flotilla intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters off the coast of Greece on April 30.The pair were seized and brought to Israel for questioning, while the rest were taken to the Greek island of Crete and released.
3 months agoSpanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Ávila were detained by Israel after sailing in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
3 months agoIsrael deported two activists on Sunday after being detained near Greece for slightly over a week for leading an aid flotilla attempting to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The two, Spanish-Swedish citizen of Palestinian origin Saif Abukeshek and Brazilian citizen Thiago Ávila, were among dozens of activists intercepted by the Israeli navy off the coast of Crete. Both are members of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s steering committee, whose mission is to break Israel’s naval...
3 months agoIsrael deported on Sunday two foreign activists seized from a Gaza-bound flotilla, in what a rights group representing them described as a “punitive attack” on a civilian mission. Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were among dozens of activists aboard a flotilla intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters off the coast of Greece on April 30. The pair were seized by Israeli forces and brought to Israel for questioning, while the others were taken to the Greek island of Crete and released. “Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila, from the provocation flotilla, were deported today from Israel” following an investigation, the Israeli foreign ministry posted on X on Sunday. Israel would “not allow any breach” of the blockade on Gaza, it added. Spain, Brazil and the United Nations had all called for the men’s swift release. On Wednesday, an Israeli court rejected an appeal contesting the pair’s detention. “From their abduction in international waters to their unlawful detention in total isolation and the ill-treatment they were subjected to, the Israeli authorities’ actions were a punitive attack on a purely civilian mission,” Adalah, the rights group that represented the pair, said after their release. “The use of detention and interrogation against activists and human rights defenders is an unacceptable attempt to suppress global solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.” The flotilla had set sail from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Palestinian territory. The Global Sumud Flotilla’s first voyage last year was also intercepted by Israeli forces off the coasts of Egypt and Gaza. Israel controls all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007. Throughout Israel’s war on Gaza that started in October 2023, there have been shortages of critical supplies in the territory, with Israel at times cutting off aid entirely.
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