Israel to Release Two Gaza Flotilla Activists Ahead of Deportation
Rights group Adalah reports that Israel will release two foreign activists from the Gaza-bound flotilla before deporting them.
May 09, 2026 - Israel will release two foreign activists taken off a Gaza-bound flotilla from detention on Saturday before handing them to immigration authorities ahead of their deportation.
The rights group representing them said that Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were among dozens of activists aboard the intercepted flotilla.
The pair was seized by Israeli forces and brought to Israel for questioning, while others were taken to the Greek island of Crete and released.
Adalah stated that the Shabak Israeli intelligence agency informed their legal team that Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) activists and leaders Thiago Avila and Saif Abukeshek would be released from detention on Saturday.
According to Adalah, they will be handed to Israel's immigration authorities later today and kept in custody pending their deportation.
Adalah said it was closely monitoring developments 'to make sure that the release from detention goes ahead, followed by their deportation from Israel in the coming days.'
On Tuesday, an Israeli court had extended the pair’s detention until Sunday to allow police more time to interrogate them.
The lawyers then filed an appeal against their continued detention but it was rejected by a district court on Wednesday.
Spain, Brazil, and the United Nations had all called for their swift release.
Avila and Abu Keshek 'have been held unlawfully by Israel for over a week after being taken into Israeli detention,' Adalah said on Saturday.
They were detained under punitive conditions despite the purely civilian nature of their mission, and both Avila and Abu Keshek had been on hunger strike while in detention.
Adalah stated that authorities had previously rejected allegations of abuse but have filed no charges against the men.
The pair was accused by Israel of 'assisting the enemy during wartime' and 'membership in and providing services to a terrorist organization.'
The flotilla set sail from France, Spain, and Italy with the aim of breaking Israel's blockade on Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
Since 2007, Israel has controlled all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade.
The rights group representing them said that Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were among dozens of activists aboard the intercepted flotilla.
The pair was seized by Israeli forces and brought to Israel for questioning, while others were taken to the Greek island of Crete and released.
Adalah stated that the Shabak Israeli intelligence agency informed their legal team that Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) activists and leaders Thiago Avila and Saif Abukeshek would be released from detention on Saturday.
According to Adalah, they will be handed to Israel's immigration authorities later today and kept in custody pending their deportation.
Adalah said it was closely monitoring developments 'to make sure that the release from detention goes ahead, followed by their deportation from Israel in the coming days.'
On Tuesday, an Israeli court had extended the pair’s detention until Sunday to allow police more time to interrogate them.
The lawyers then filed an appeal against their continued detention but it was rejected by a district court on Wednesday.
Spain, Brazil, and the United Nations had all called for their swift release.
Avila and Abu Keshek 'have been held unlawfully by Israel for over a week after being taken into Israeli detention,' Adalah said on Saturday.
They were detained under punitive conditions despite the purely civilian nature of their mission, and both Avila and Abu Keshek had been on hunger strike while in detention.
Adalah stated that authorities had previously rejected allegations of abuse but have filed no charges against the men.
The pair was accused by Israel of 'assisting the enemy during wartime' and 'membership in and providing services to a terrorist organization.'
The flotilla set sail from France, Spain, and Italy with the aim of breaking Israel's blockade on Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
Since 2007, Israel has controlled all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade.
