On Sunday, May 10, Israel deported two foreign activists after holding them week in international waters off Greece. Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian citizen Thiago Ávila were released from Israeli detention and handed to immigration authorities ahead of their deportation, according to the legal rights group Adalah, which represented the pair throughout their custody.
The Interception
The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying 170 activists aboard a convoy of vessels, was intercepted by the Israeli Navy off the coast of Crete, hundreds of nautical miles — more than 1,000 kilometres — from Israel. The flotilla’s first aid vessels departed from Barcelona on April 12, while the main fleet set sail from Sicily on April 26. The convoy was intercepted on Thursday, April 30, near the Greek coast, approximately 600 nautical miles from Gaza.
With the exception of Ávila and Abu Keshek, all the activists from the flotilla were freed last Friday in Greece. The two men were brought to Israel for interrogation — a step their lawyers contested from the outset as unlawful.
Court Proceedings and Detention Extension
On Sunday, May 3, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila appeared in an Ashkelon court, as confirmed to Al Jazeera by Miriam Azem, Adalah’s international advocacy coordinator. Israeli authorities requested a four-day extension of their detention for further interrogation, according to Adalah.
The Beer Sheva District Court on Wednesday rejected an appeal filed by Adalah against the activists’ continued detention, leaving both men in custody until at least May 10. Adalah said the ruling was “unlawful and unreasonable,” arguing that Israeli forces had no legal authority to arrest the pair after intercepting an Italian-flagged vessel in international waters.
An Israeli state attorney said the pair were suspected of several offences, including “assisting the enemy during wartime,” contact with a foreign agent, and alleged links to a terrorist organisation. Rights groups said Israeli prosecutors relied on broad security allegations and undisclosed evidence inaccessible to the detainees and their lawyers. Both activists denied the accusations.
Allegations of Abuse
Lawyers and released flotilla participants reported that both men were subjected to harsh physical and psychological abuse, including prolonged blindfolding, handcuffing, isolation, sleep deprivation, and exposure to constant bright lighting. Witnesses said Abu Keshek was separated from the other detainees and severely mistreated, while Avila reportedly lost consciousness twice after alleged assaults. Both activists are said to have initiated hunger strikes while in custody.
Death of Thiago Ávila’s Mother
The court proceedings unfolded as the Global Sumud Flotilla announced that Ávila’s mother, Teresa Regina de Ávila e Silva, died in Brazil on Tuesday, May 5, while her son remained imprisoned. She was 63 years old.
The flotilla coalition said Ávila did not know his mother had died because he was being held in isolation and denied contact with the outside world. In a statement, the group accused Israel of “unfathomable cruelty.” Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva labelled Ávila’s imprisonment “unjustifiable.”
Eleven nations, including Spain, Brazil, Turkey, and South Africa, released a joint statement condemning the detention of the two activists as a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”
Regional and International Impact
The Global Sumud Flotilla was the second initiative in a year aiming to break the Israeli naval blockade on Gaza, which rights groups say has suffered shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in the enclave.
An Israeli state attorney said the interrogations had largely focused on the Global Sumud Flotilla itself, leading lawyers to argue that “detention is an attempt to criminalise humanitarian aid and solidarity.” The case drew a formal response from at least 11 governments, intensifying diplomatic pressure on Israel over its maritime enforcement policies.
Background
The Global Sumud Flotilla’s first voyage to Gaza in August and September 2025 drew worldwide attention before Israeli forces intercepted the boats off the coasts of Egypt and Gaza in early October. Israel maintains a maritime blockade on Gaza and tightened it following the outbreak of the regional war in February 2026. Israel says the blockade is necessary to prevent the smuggling of weapons to armed groups. The United Nations and human rights organisations have repeatedly warned of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to restricted access by land and sea. The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said the interception of unarmed civilian vessels in international waters and the forcible transfer of foreign activists to Israel raises serious concerns under international maritime law.
What Happens Next
Israel said that on Saturday, May 9, it would release Ávila and Abu Keshek from detention and held them to immigration. Both were deported on Sunday, May 10, according to The Washington Post. Adalah has not disclosed whether it intends to pursue further legal action over the circumstances of the arrests and detention. Rights groups and eleven governments have called for an independent international investigation into alleged violations of international law during the flotilla interception. Israel has not publicly responded to those calls.
