Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila appear in Israeli court
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 3
Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila appear in Israeli court
9 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 3
The Spanish and Brazilian activists appeared in Ashkelon on Sunday after Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla of more than 50 vessels off Greece and took 175 activists from the boats.
Rights group Adalah said prosecutors sought four more days of detention, while both men alleged beatings, blindfolding, isolation and other abuse during seizure and transfer to Shikma prison.
Israel says both are linked to a US-sanctioned group accused of acting for Hamas, an allegation Spain rejected; organisers said the interception happened over 1,000km from Gaza.
Are the detained activists humanitarians or agents of a US-sanctioned group linked to Hamas?
With a peace deal in place, why was a Gaza aid flotilla intercepted 600 miles from its destination?
Israel’s Interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla: 22 Ships Seized, 175 Activists Detained, and International Outrage
Overview
On April 30, 2026, the Israeli navy intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near Crete, seizing 22 aid boats and detaining 175 activists. Two activists, Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila, were separated and mistreated aboard an Israeli naval vessel, while most others were transferred to Greek authorities and released. Israel justified the detention of Abukeshek and Ávila over alleged ties to a Hamas-linked group, sparking strong diplomatic protests from Spain, Brazil, and others who condemned the interception as illegal under international law. The raid intensified global criticism of Israel’s Gaza blockade, led to multilateral condemnations, and heightened tensions that threaten progress on the peace process.