Israel Deports Gaza Flotilla Activists Saif Abu Keshek And Thiago Ávila After Detention

Israel deported two pro-Palestinian activists, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila, after they were detained following the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near Crete.

“Toggle Play Flotilla activists arrive in Turkiye before setting sail to Gaza More than 30 Global Sumud Flotilla vessels have reached Marmaris on Turkiye’s coast, preparing for the final leg of their mission to break Israel’s siege of Gaza”

Al Jazeera

The BBC said the flotilla was made up of 22 boats and about 175 activists, and that all the other activists were taken to Crete and freed.

Al Jazeera

Israel’s foreign ministry said in a statement posted on X that authorities had completed their investigation and confirmed the two activists had been deported, adding, "Israel will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza."

The Times of Israel reported that the two activists were taken off a Gaza-bound flotilla on May 1 and deported from Israel after a weeklong detention, with Israel writing, "After their investigation was completed, the two professional provocateurs, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila, from the provocation flotilla, were deported today from Israel," on X.

Adalah, the rights group representing the activists, said their detention was unlawful and that Israel’s accusations were baseless, while the BBC reported that Israel suspected Abu Keshek of links with a terrorist group and Ávila of illegal activity.

Hadeel Abu Salih, a lawyer for Adalah who co-represented the activists, told the BBC that their detention was "a sham proceeding with no legal basis, intended to punish them for attempting to challenge Israel's illegal blockade on Gaza".

BBC

During their week-long detention in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Adalah said the men were subjected to "psychological abuse," including prolonged interrogations, constant bright lighting in their cells, complete isolation, and transfers while blindfolded, even during medical examinations.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Attorney Hadeel Abu Salih argued that because the activists were detained from a vessel flying the Italian flag, they must be subject to Italian jurisdiction, calling their detention a violation of international law.

The BBC said the aim of the Global Sumud Flotilla was to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory, and it reported that the UN has warned the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire despite the ceasefire agreed by Israel and Hamas six months ago.

“Current section Thiago Ávila and Saif Abu Keshek were detained after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters near Greece earlier this month; both have been on hunger strike following what they described as violence and mistreatment during their arrest Print in a simple, ad-free format Gaza aid flotilla activists Thiago Ávila and Saif Abu Keshek are set to be deported following their release from Current section Thiago Ávila and Saif Abu Keshek were detained after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters near Greece earlier this month; both have been on hunger strike following what they described as violence and mistreatment during their arrest Print in a simple, ad-free format Gaza aid flotilla activists Thiago Ávila and Saif Abu Keshek are set to be deported following their release from Haaretz”

Haaretz

In a statement released on Saturday after it was announced both activists were set to be released, GSF demanded explanations from the European Union and specifically Greece, saying, "We demand explanations from the European Union, and specifically, Greece, after days of silence and complicity".

Al Jazeera reported that more than 30 Global Sumud Flotilla vessels reached Marmaris on Turkiye’s coast, preparing for the final leg of their mission to break Israel’s siege of Gaza.

The BBC also said Israel stopped the previous flotilla set up by the GSF from reaching Gaza last October, arresting and then deporting more than 470 people who were on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.