Spaniard Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila were brought before an Israeli court on Sunday after Israeli troops captured them on a flotilla attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. Avila told his lawyers that he had been beaten so severely in Israeli custody that he lost consciousness twice.
First modification: 05/03/2026 - 15:04 Last modification: 05/03/2026 - 15:04
Two foreign activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla who were captured and taken to Israel for questioning appeared in an Israeli court on Sunday, a human rights group defending them said.
The flotilla of more than 50 vessels had set sail from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking the Israeli blockade of Gaza and bringing humanitarian supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory.
They were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece early Thursday; Israel claimed to have removed some 175 activists, two of whom were taken to Israel for interrogation.
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Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila appeared in court in Ashkelon on Sunday.
The court extended his detention for two days, said Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator for rights group Adalah.
Israeli authorities had requested to extend his detention for four days, Azem said.
On Saturday, Adalah reported that her lawyers had met with the two activists detained in Ashkelon's Shikma prison.
Avila told lawyers that he was "subjected to extreme brutality" when the boats were captured, adding that he was "dragged face down on the ground and beaten so severely that he lost consciousness twice."
Since arriving in Israel, he claimed to have been "kept in isolation and blindfolded," according to Adalah.
Read alsoIsrael detains two Gaza activists after intercepting aid flotilla in international waters
Abu Keshek was also "hand-bound and blindfolded... and forced to lie face down on the ground from the moment of his capture" until he reached Israel, the group said.
Israel's foreign ministry alleged that the two activists were affiliated with an organization that was sanctioned by the US Treasury.
That group — the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) — has been accused by Washington of "acting clandestinely on behalf of" the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Israel's foreign ministry alleged that Abu Keshek was a prominent member of the PCPA, and that Avila was also linked to the organization and was "suspected of illegal activity."
Spain has rejected the Israeli accusation against him and claims that Abu Keshek is being "illegally detained."
Spain's foreign ministry on Sunday 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 Abu Keshek to the hearing.
This article is an adaptation of its original in English
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