Israel deports two activists detained on board Gaza flotilla

Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Ávila were detained by Israel after sailing in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

Israel released on Sunday two activists of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, Brazilian Thiago de Avila and Spanish activist of Palestinian origin Saif Abukeshek, and deported them, following their extended detention. Their release came 'after their investigation was completed,' said the Israeli Foreign Ministry on the US social media company X. Their detentions had previously been extended twice by the Israeli judiciary.

Israel liberará y expulsará a Saif Abukeshek, activista español y también nacional sueco, capturado junto al brasileño Thiago Ávila mientras participaban en una flotilla con destino a Gaza. Ambos fueron apresados el 30 de abril por el ejército israelí en aguas internacionales, a mil kilómetros de la frontera israelí, y encarcelados sin cargos. Tras nueve días de detención en aislamiento, bajo condiciones extremas y en huelga de hambre, su liberación fue comunicada por la abogada Hadeel Abu Salih de la ONG Adalah. Se estima que Abukeshek será expulsado a través del paso de Taba hacia Egipto con apoyo consular español.

Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish-Palestinian activist and member of the Global Sumud Flotilla, returned to Barcelona after being detained without charges by Israel. He and Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila were the only two detained among 175 people captured by the Israeli army when it intercepted the humanitarian flotilla a thousand kilometers from the Israeli border. Abukeshek denounced systematic human rights violations by Israel and recounted assaults, psychological torture, and a hunger strike during his detention. He stated that Israeli authorities attempted to break his protest with food and Palestinian music. The activist, who has lived in Barcelona for two decades and is the father of three children, belongs to several pro-Palestinian organizations and called for citizen action against the impunity of the Israeli government. Despite his detention, he guaranteed that he will continue supporting the Palestinian cause.

Israel deported two activists, Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila, after detaining them for over a week for leading an aid flotilla that aimed to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. Both belong to the Global Sumud Flotilla's steering committee, which Israel's Foreign Ministry labeled as 'professional provocateurs.' The activists, intercepted near Crete, were accused by Israel of affiliations with terrorism and illegal activities, though no charges were officially made. Their detention sparked international protests and condemnation from Spain and Brazil, who claimed their citizens were unlawfully seized in international waters.

Israel deported two activists, Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila, after detaining them for over a week for their role in leading an aid flotilla attempting to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. Both are members of the Global Sumud Flotilla's steering committee, whose mission is to break Israel's naval blockade and bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory.