Israel has confirmed that Spanish activist Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Ávila, detained during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, are now on Israeli soil awaiting interrogation. The Israeli foreign ministry announced their arrival via social media but did not disclose where they landed or where questioning will take place.
Israel accuses both men of links to Hamas through the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, an organisation the United States has designated as a front for the Palestinian Islamist movement. Israeli officials specifically name Abu Keshek as a “leader” of that structure, while describing Ávila as working for the group in activities it considers illegal.
Both detainees are expected to receive consular visits from their respective countries. Spain’s consul in Tel Aviv will attend to Abu Keshek, while Brazilian diplomats will assist Ávila.
Spain Condemns ‘Illegal Detention’
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares was unequivocal in an interview with Catalunya Ràdio, calling the arrest “an illegal detention carried out in international waters, outside any jurisdiction of the Israeli authorities.” For Albares, Abu Keshek should never have been taken to Israel; he should have been put ashore on the Greek island of Crete alongside the other 174 activists who were released after the raid.
On Thursday, Spain’s foreign ministry urgently summoned the head of the Israeli embassy in Madrid to convey the government’s condemnation. Madrid has also signed a joint declaration with ten other countries — including Turkey, Brazil, Colombia and South Africa — stating that the Israeli attacks on the ships and the detention of the activists constitute “flagrant violations of international law.”
When asked whether Abu Keshek may have been tortured, Albares acknowledged he could not confirm it because there has not yet been direct contact with him. He did confirm that several activists needed medical attention in Crete and that the Spanish consul dispatched there had to accompany them.
Flotilla Organisers Allege Systematic Torture
The Global Sumud Flotilla has gone further in its accusations. In a statement released early Saturday, the organisation claims that both Abu Keshek and Ávila were tortured by the Israeli army after being separated from the other activists who were taken to the Israeli naval vessel Nahshon. “Eyewitnesses have testified to the screams of Abu Keshek echoing throughout the ship as he was systematically tortured after being separated from the others,” the statement says. The organisation describes what happened as a “serious escalation” and an “additional war crime.” As many as 35 activists, according to the organisers, had to receive medical treatment as a result of the violence during the Israeli operation.
The interception of the flotilla, which was attempting to break the blockade of Gaza, has drawn widespread international criticism. Earlier reports detailed how the Israeli navy boarded the vessels in international waters off Greece, leading to the detention of 175 activists. Many of those were later released and disembarked in Crete, as covered in our earlier report on Gaza Flotilla Activists Disembark in Crete After Israeli Interception.
Family Left in the Dark
Sally Issa, Abu Keshek’s wife, told Spanish public broadcaster TVE that the family had been without information for hours. “We have been given no information about the transfer,” she said. “Israel cannot seize people in international waters. It is an illegal act, and we call on the Spanish government to do everything it can to secure his release.” What worries her most, she added, is her husband’s physical condition. “We have testimony from activists who were there who said that there has been systematic violence against Saif, and we are gravely concerned for his health,” she explained, stressing that beyond lawyers, the family also needs guarantees of medical care.
The case has also drawn attention to broader tensions in the region. In a separate incident, Israeli Police Arrest Man for Assaulting French Catholic Nun in Jerusalem, highlighting ongoing security challenges. Meanwhile, the European Union has been monitoring the situation, with several member states calling for restraint and adherence to international law.
