Israel to deport two Gaza flotilla activists detained for past week
The Times of Israel • • world
Key Points:
- Israel will release two foreign activists, Thiago Avila and Saif Abukeshek, detained after their Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted, and hand them over to immigration authorities for deportation.
- Both activists were accused of affiliation with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, a group designated by Israel and the US as linked to Hamas.
- The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying 170 activists from Europe, aimed to break the Israeli naval blockade on Gaza but was intercepted near Crete; all other activists were released in Greece.
- Avila and Abu Keshek have been held in isolation under harsh conditions, have been on hunger strike, and their detention has drawn international criticism from the UN, Brazil, and Spain.
- Israeli courts extended their detention for interrogation, rejecting appeals, though no charges have been formally filed against them.
