Israel court extends detention of Gaza flotilla activists

An Israeli court has extended by two days the detention of two activists ​arrested aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli forces in ‌international waters near Greece, their lawyer said on Sunday.

Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were detained by Israeli authorities late on Wednesday and brought to Israel, ​while more than 100 other pro-Palestinian activists aboard the boats were taken to ​the Greek island of Crete.

A court spokesperson confirmed that their remand ⁠had been extended until May 5.

The governments of Spain and Brazil issued a ​joint statement on Friday calling their detention illegal.

The activists were part of a second ​Global Sumud flotilla, launched in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance. The ships had set sail from Barcelona on April 12.

Israeli authorities requested a four-day extension ​of their arrest on suspicion of offences that include assisting the enemy ​during wartime, contact with a foreign agent, membership in and providing services to a terrorist organisation, ‌and ⁠the transfer of property for a terrorist organisation, said rights group Adalah, which is assisting in the activists' defence.

Hadeel Abu Salih, the men's attorney, said that the two deny the allegations. Their arrest was unlawful due to a lack of ​jurisdiction, she told ​Reuters at the ⁠Ashkelon Magistrate's Court after the hearing, adding that the mission was meant to provide aid to civilians in Gaza, not ​to any militant group.

Abu Salih said that Abu Keshek and ​Avila were ⁠subjected to violence en route to Israel and kept handcuffed and blindfolded until Thursday morning.

Asked for comment, the Israeli military referred Reuters to the Israeli foreign ministry, ⁠which said ​that staff were compelled to act to stop ​what it described as violent physical obstruction by Abu Keshek and Avila. All measures taken were ​lawful, it said.

-BBC