Israeli court extends detention of Gaza flotilla activists brought to Israel for questioning

An Israeli court extended the detention of two foreign activists who were arrested as part of the interception of the most recent Global Sumud Flotilla over the weekend. 

While most of the activists were released on the Greek island of Crete, after the vessels were seized and confiscated by Israel, the two foreign activists were brought to Israel for questioning by Israeli authorities. 

On Tuesday, the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Thiago Avila, a Brazilian activist, allowing authorities to continue questioning them until Sunday. 

After the Israeli rights group Adalah, which is representing the two detainees, filed an appeal demanding their release, the Beersheba District Court on Wednesday rejected the appeal.

“Today, the district court of Beersheva denied our appeal and basically accepted all of the arguments that the state or the police have represented before the court and kept the previous decision,” Adalah lawyer Hadeel Abu Salih said. 

Adalah, who called the court decision “both unlawful and unreasonable,” also said the court “failed to address the state’s fundamental lack of legal authority to carry out an arrest — which was effectively an abduction — in international waters.” 

The Spanish consul in Israel released a statement saying, “The government of Spain demands his immediate release and that all his rights be respected.” 

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also called for the release of the two activists in a post to social media, writing, “Our government, together with that of Spain — which also had a citizen detained — demands that they be fully guaranteed their safety and immediately released.” 

The United Nations also called for Israel to release the two detainees. 

“Israel must immediately and unconditionally release Global Sumud Flotilla members Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila, who were detained in international waters and brought to Israel where they continue to be held without charge,” UN rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism issued a warning regarding a protest and solidarity rally scheduled  for Wednesday night in Greece, assessing there to be a high risk for Israelis and Jews, especially “those displaying Israeli symbols.” 

The ministry said that while the protest was not scheduled to take place near Israeli facilities, its focus on Israeli policy “may increase the likelihood of harassment, intimidation, and verbal assault – specifically toward Israelis, Jews, Hebrew speakers, or those displaying Israeli symbols.” 

Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli said, “Through the National Command Center for Combating Antisemitism, which monitors discourse and organized activities using advanced tools, we have identified an intensification of hostile and inflammatory rhetoric surrounding the protest in Athens. Based on past experience, this could escalate into acts of hostility toward Israelis and Jews. Consequently, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs urges Israelis and Jews in the area to exercise heightened vigilance. We will continue to monitor closely, provide real-time updates, and work with relevant authorities to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens and Jewish communities everywhere.” 

Avi Cohen-Scali, Director General of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, said that information regarding possible threats to Israelis and Jews due to the protest had “been shared with the relevant authorities in accordance with established inter-ministerial protocols.” 

He also pointed out that the groups involved in organizing the protest regularly “engage in organizing protests, public campaigns, and activities against the State of Israel, including calls for Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS).” 

The ministry said that previous demonstrations initiated by the organizations included violent clashes with police; disruptions of Israel-related events, and protest activities directed at Israeli tourists in Greece. 

Warning that online interaction to the protest announcements generated significant local engagement and support, the ministry warned Jews and Israelis to avoid the area.