An Israeli court extended the arrest of two activists from the Sumud Global Flotilla for Gaza until next Sunday, May 10, according to the human rights organization Adalah reported this Tuesday, May 5. The detainees, accused of several charges, including belonging to a "terrorist" organization, deny any connection with Hamas. The governments of Spain and Brazil, countries of origin of those deprived of liberty, have classified as "illegal" the interception of the ship and the detention of the activists in international waters.
First modification: 05/05/2026 - 17:24 Last modification: 05/05/2026 - 17:28
Saif Abu Keshek, of Palestinian origin and Spanish nationality, and Thiago Ávila, Brazilian, will remain detained in Israeli territory at least until May 10, the human rights group Adalah, which is collaborating in the defense of the activists, reported this Tuesday.
Both were arrested by Israel at the end of April, during the interception, in international waters, of the Global Sumud flotilla bound for Gaza, in which hundreds of activists were traveling with humanitarian aid for the war-devastated Palestinian enclave.
"The court approved his detention until Sunday morning," Miriam Azem, international coordinator of the Israeli NGO Adalah, told the AFP news agency, hours before a spokesperson for the Israeli court confirmed to Reuters the extension of the arrest.
Israeli authorities requested a six-day extension of arrest on suspicion of crimes including aiding the enemy in times of war, contact with a foreign agent, membership in and providing services to a terrorist organization, and transfer of property for a terrorist organization. The detainees reject the accusations.
"These are two foreign citizens who were detained in international waters"
Adalah's lawyer, Hadeel Abu Salih, a defender of the activists, explained this Tuesday that the judge justified the decision by stating that the police still have more interrogations to carry out and tasks pending while both men remain in custody.
"Today we made it clear to the court that, first of all, we are talking about an illegal detention that must end immediately and that both must be released without conditions. Especially, taking into account that these are two foreign citizens who were detained in international waters, approximately 1,000 kilometers from Gaza, and transferred to Israel against their will," said the defense when leaving the hearing at the Ashkelon Court of First Instance.
The defense announced that it will appeal to a higher court. This is the first case in which members of the Sumud Global Flotilla are accused by Israel of charges linked to terrorism.
The authorities of the Jewish-majority State had already validated last Sunday, May 3, a first two-day extension of the activists' detention, after the capture at sea on Thursday, while another 175 crew members were released on the Greek island of Crete.
Those arrested were part of the second Global Sumud naval squadron that set sail from the port of Barcelona on April 12.
Both have remained on hunger strike since their arrest, which is why the Israeli court ordered the Penitentiary Service to monitor their state of health.
Read alsoA Spaniard and a Brazilian: who are the Gaza flotilla activists detained by Israel?
Israel insists on ties with Hamas
With shackles on their feet, the detainees appeared this Tuesday for the second time before a court in Ashkelon, about 60 km from the city of Tel Aviv. There they heard again the accusation from the Israeli authorities about the alleged links with the Islamist movement Hamas.
This accusation has not only been rejected by the detainees, but also by the governments of Spain and Brazil, which issued a joint statement last Friday, May 1, describing the detention as illegal. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that Israel has not provided "any evidence" of its complaint.
But the Israeli Foreign Ministry insists that the two activists are linked to the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), an organization sanctioned by the US Treasury Department.
Washington accuses the PCPA of "acting clandestinely on behalf" of Hamas.
"They have suffered torture"
The detainees' lawyer, Hadeel Abu Salih, stated that Abu Keshek and Ávila were victims of violence during their transfer to Israel. He explained that both remained handcuffed and blindfolded until Thursday morning.
The lawyer, who visited the activists for half an hour over the weekend, reported that they have bruises on their faces and hands, since they have been kept handcuffed face down.
In an interview with the Spanish state channel, RTVE, Abu Salih also condemned that the detainees, who have not been charged, are being interrogated without having received optimal legal assistance.
Along the same lines, Sally Issa, partner of the Spanish-Palestinian activist, reported this Tuesday in Madrid that both detainees "have suffered torture and mistreatment" and "have been interrogated for many hours." And he added: "We cannot speak to Saif because the Israeli State does not allow him to have contact with the family."
Ávila's wife, Lara Souza, stated that her husband is being monitored by doctors during the sixth day of the hunger strike. "He is better from his injuries, but he is very weak, and the embassy is very concerned about it," she added.
Asked about allegations of mistreatment, Israel's Foreign Ministry stated that staff were forced to act to stop what it described as violent physical obstruction by Abu Keshek and Ávila. The Israeli Government portfolio stressed that all the measures adopted were legal.
However, Sally Issa doubts this: "Companions on the boat have told us that they heard Saif's screams throughout the trip to Greece."
Read alsoAt least 20 ships from the Global Sumud flotilla were intercepted by Israel in the Greek territorial sea
With Reuters, AFP and EFE
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