Israel is set to release two foreign activists detained after a Gaza-bound aid flotilla was intercepted at sea, before transferring them to immigration authorities ahead of their deportation, according to the rights group representing them.
Spanish activist Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila were among several activists aboard the flotilla intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters off the coast of Greece on April 30.
The two were detained by Israeli forces and taken to Israel for questioning, while the remaining activists were transferred to the Greek island of Crete and later released.
In a statement, rights group Adalah said: “Today, the Shabak Israeli intelligence agency informed Adalah’s legal team that Global Sumud Flotilla activists and leaders Thiago Avila and Saif Abukeshek would be released from Israeli detention today, Saturday.”
“They will be handed to Israel’s immigration authorities later today and kept in custody pending their deportation,” the organisation added.
Adalah said it was closely monitoring the situation to ensure the release process proceeds smoothly and that both activists are deported from Israel in the coming days.
Earlier this week, an Israeli court extended the activists’ detention until Sunday to allow further interrogation by police, according to their legal team. An appeal challenging the extension was later rejected by a district court.
Spain, Brazil and the United Nations had all urged Israeli authorities to release the pair swiftly.
According to Adalah, the two activists “have been held unlawfully by Israel for over a week after being taken into Israeli detention”.
“Throughout their detention, they were held in total isolation under punitive conditions despite the purely civilian nature of their mission,” the group said.
The rights organisation also said both men had been on hunger strike during their detention, adding that Abu Keshek had “escalated to refusing water on the evening of May 5”.
Israeli authorities have denied allegations of mistreatment and have not filed formal charges against either activist.
However, Adalah previously stated that Israeli authorities accused the pair of “assisting the enemy during wartime” and “membership in and providing services to a terrorist organisation”.
Israel alleges both activists are linked to the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, which Washington accuses of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” Hamas.
The flotilla departed from France, Spain and Italy with the stated aim of challenging Israel’s blockade on Gaza and delivering humanitarian assistance to the territory.
Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since 2007 and controls all access points into the enclave.
