Politics Israel deports two Gaza activists
Israel has deported two activists who were brought to Israel after the Gaza aid flotilla was stopped. This was done after the investigations against the Spaniard Saif Abu Keschek and the Brazilian Thiago Ávila were concluded, a spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Platform X. They were accused of provocation. Israel "will not allow any violation of the lawful naval blockade of the Gaza Strip". Further details on the deportation were not initially provided.
10.05.2026, 09:32
SDA
The two activists were brought to Israel more than a week ago. The human rights organization Adalah, which represented the two in court, spoke of their "unlawful abduction". Israel accused Abu Keschek, who has Palestinian roots, of having links to the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Spain demanded his immediate release. Ávila was accused of "illegal activities".
Flotilla stopped in international waters
On April 30, the Israeli navy intercepted more than 20 ships of the "Global Sumud Flotilla" in international waters near Crete and, according to its own information, arrested 175 people. Greece took most of them in and organized their return to their countries of origin.
Several EU states, including Germany, expressed doubts as to whether the stop in international waters was compatible with international law. Israel emphasized that the action against the activists was in accordance with international law.
According to the organizers, the so-called "Global Sumud Flotilla" wanted to regroup in the Turkish port of Marmaris. It initially remained unclear when the activists planned to set sail again from Marmaris for the Gaza Strip with aid supplies.
The pro-Palestinian activists wanted to try again to break through the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has been in place since 2007 and is also supported by Egypt, and bring aid supplies to the conflict region.
