Israeli Forces Intercept Global Sumud Flotilla, Extend Detention of Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Avila

Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters off Greece and removed activists before taking two men to Israel for questioning, setting off a diplomatic standoff that culminated in court appearances in Ashkelon.

The flotilla, described as Gaza-bound, had set sail from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking an Israeli blockade of Gaza and bringing humanitarian supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory.

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera reported that Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said he was concerned about the “illegal detention” of Saif Abukeshek and called for him to be “released immediately”.

Albares said Abukeshek was arrested “outside the jurisdiction of Israel” and insisted, “Of course, it is a kidnapping.”

According to Al Jazeera, Israel’s navy stormed 22 of the flotilla boats attempting to deliver aid to Gaza while they were in international waters, using drones and communications-jamming technology, and detained 175 of those on board.

The two taken to Israel were Saif Abukeshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila, and they were scheduled to appear before a court on Sunday for a hearing to extend their detention.

On Sunday, rights group Adalah said the Israeli court extended their detention by two days, with Miriam Azem telling AFP that “The court extended their detention by two days.”

Le Monde also reported that the state had requested to extend their detention by four days, and that the detention was extended by two days after their arrest off the coast of Greece, with the hearing taking place in Ashkelon on Sunday, May 3.

The accounts of the interception emphasize both the scale of the operation and the distance from Gaza where it occurred, while Israeli and organizer narratives diverged on the nature of the boarding.

Al Jazeera said the Israeli navy stormed 22 of the flotilla boats attempting to deliver aid to Gaza while they were in international waters, hundreds of miles from the strip, and that drones and communications-jamming technology were used.

Al Jazeera

The Guardian reported that the flotilla of more than 50 vessels was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece early on Thursday, and that Israel said it had removed 175 activists, with two taken to Israel for questioning.

The Times of Israel described the flotilla as comprised of 58 boats and said the Israeli Navy intercepted it overnight between Wednesday and Thursday off the coast of Crete, hundreds of nautical miles (over 1,000 kilometers) from Israel.

Le Figaro reported that the flotilla consisted of more than 50 boats and that the militants arrested would be taken to Greece, while also citing Israeli claims that the operation was conducted in international waters “peacefully, without any casualties.”

Le Figaro also quoted the Global Sumud Flotilla organization saying its boats were boarded by military patrol boats that identified themselves as Israel and that the occupants “pointed lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons” and “ordered participants to gather at the front of the boats and to get on all fours.”

Organizers told The Guardian that the Israeli interception took place more than 620 miles (1,000km) from Gaza and that their equipment was smashed, leaving them facing a “calculated death trap at sea.”

The Times of Israel added that the Foreign Ministry said that “due to the large numbers of vessels participating in the flotilla and the risk of escalation, and the need to prevent the breach of a lawful blockade, an early action was required in accordance with international law.”

The detained activists’ accounts, as relayed by Adalah and other rights reporting, centered on physical violence, isolation, and restraints, while Israeli authorities framed the detention around alleged links to organizations accused of ties to Hamas.

Adalah said its lawyers met Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila at Shikma Prison in Ashkelon and described the arrest as involving “extreme brutality,” with Miriam Azem telling AFP that the state asked to extend detention by four days before the court ultimately granted a two-day extension.

The Guardian reported that Avila told lawyers he had been “subjected to extreme brutality” when the vessels were seized, adding that he was “dragged face-down across the floor and beaten so severely that he passed out twice.”

The same reporting said Avila was “kept in isolation and blindfolded,” while Abu Keshek was “hand-tied and blindfolded … and forced to lie face-down on the floor from the moment of his seizure” until reaching Israel.

Al Jazeera cited Adalah’s description that “The harrowing testimonies provided by both activists reveal physical violence and being held for prolonged periods in stress positions by Israeli military forces during the past two days they have spent at sea.”

It also reported that Abukeshek “reported being kept hand-tied and blindfolded, and being forced to lie face-down on the floor from the moment of his seizure until this morning, resulting in bruising to his face and hands.”

For Avila, Al Jazeera said he reported “extreme brutality,” including being “dragged face-down across the floor and beaten so severely that he passed out twice.”

Against those allegations, Israeli authorities said the two were affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), which Washington and Israel accuse of acting on behalf of Hamas, and the Israeli Foreign Ministry alleged Abu Keshek was a leading member of the PCPA and that Avila was “suspected of illegal activity.”

The flotilla arrests triggered competing narratives about legality, intent, and the meaning of the detention, with European governments and rights groups condemning the action while Israeli officials described it as enforcement against a blockade breach.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez delivered a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a speech on Friday, saying that Spain would always protect its citizens and defend international law and adding, “We demand the release of the Spanish citizen who has been unlawfully detained by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s government,” according to Al Jazeera.

Al-Jazeera Net

Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Catalan radio station RAC1 that he was concerned about “illegal detention” and called for Saif Abukeshek to be “released immediately,” while also insisting the arrest was “outside the jurisdiction of Israel” and “Of course, it is a kidnapping.”

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as described by Al Jazeera, said Abukeshek is a leading member of the Palestinian National Conference Abroad, which the United States says operates at the behest of Hamas, and it said Israel had not put evidence on the table, while the Spanish diplomat insisted that “Israel has not put on the table any evidence about Abukeshek’s relationship with Hamas.”

The Guardian reported that Spain condemned the detention of Abu Keshek and rejected the Israeli accusation against him, while organizers said the interception was more than 620 miles (1,000km) from Gaza and that their equipment was smashed, leaving them facing a “calculated death trap at sea.”

Le Figaro described Israeli justification for the operation, quoting an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Oren Marmorstein, saying the operation was conducted in international waters “peacefully, without any casualties,” and that early action was necessary “in accordance with international law.”

Le Figaro also reported that Washington condemned the flotilla as a “pro-Hamas initiative” and said it expected allies to deny port access, docking, departure and refueling, citing State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott saying the United States “expects all of its allies ... to take decisive steps against this insignificant political maneuver.”

Even within the activists’ own narrative, The Jerusalem Post reported the Global Sumud Flotilla claim that Keshek never intended to go to Gaza and was on “an observer boat which was never intended to go to Gaza,” while it also said “participant eyewitnesses provided harrowing testimony of Keshek’s screams echoing throughout the ship as he was subjected to systematic torture.”

The immediate legal next step after the Sunday hearing was the continuation of detention for Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila, while governments and rights groups pressed for release and raised the prospect of broader consequences for those who support the flotilla.

Adalah’s Miriam Azem told AFP that “The court extended their detention by two days,” after the state had asked to extend detention by four days, and Le Monde reported that the hearing took place in Ashkelon on Sunday, May 3.

Anadolu Ajansı

Al Jazeera said both men had declared a hunger strike while continuing to drink water and were scheduled to appear before a court on Sunday for a hearing to extend their detention.

Spain’s Foreign Ministry called for Abu Keshek’s “immediate release,” with AOL reporting that “The government of Spain demands his immediate release,” and that the Spanish consul in Tel Aviv accompanied Abu Keshek to the hearing.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry, as described across outlets, maintained that Abu Keshek was a leading member of the PCPA and that Avila was linked to the organization and “suspected of illegal activity,” while the Spanish government rejected the accusation and said Israel had provided no evidence to support it.

Le Figaro reported that Washington condemned the flotilla and said it was ready to “resort to the means at its disposal” to pursue “those who support this pro-Hamas flotilla,” and that it expected allies to deny port access, docking, departure and refueling to ships taking part in the flotilla.

The Times of Israel reported that the United States backed Israeli authorities and that a State Department spokesman said Washington was exploring imposing “consequences” on those who support the flotilla.

Meanwhile, the Global Sumud Flotilla appealed for international support, saying, “We demand that all governments do all they can to pressure the Israeli regime to release all the illegal abductees,” and it said organizers planned to continue attempts to break the blockade.