The Israeli human rights organization Adalah confirmed on Sunday that the Israeli Ashkelon Court extended the detention of foreign activists in the “Resilience Fleet” for an additional two days. The two activists appeared before the court on Sunday after “the state requested an extension of their detention for four days.” According to Adalah, the two detained activists said that their arrest was characterized by “extreme brutality,” and they were informed that they would be subjected to interrogation on suspicion of “belonging to a terrorist organization.”
Published on: 03/05/2026 - 11:49 Last updated: 03/05/2026 - 12:30
Maryam Azem, representative of the Adalah human rights organization, said on Sunday that the Israeli Ashkelon Court “extended the detention of the foreign activists in the “Resilience Fleet” for an additional two days.
The Israeli authorities had requested to extend the detention of the Spanish activist Saif Abu Kishk and the Brazilian Thiago for four days.
The "Adalah" organization reported that the Spanish and Brazilian activists who were arrested by Israel when it intercepted the ships of the "Resilience Flotilla" supporting Gaza off the coast of Greece, appeared before the Ashkelon court on Sunday.
The Spaniard, Saif Abu Kishk, and the Brazilian, Thiago Avila, were transferred on Sunday morning to the Ashkelon Court, the coastal city where they are being held, and the hearing began, according to Maryam Azem of the “Adalah” organization.
Israel arrested about 175 activists of different nationalities on Thursday on board about 20 ships belonging to the Al-Samoud Flotilla, which aims to break the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, where humanitarian access remains severely restricted.
Read also: Israel arrests two activists from the “Resilience Fleet” and transfers them to its territory for investigation
The organization's lawyers were previously able to visit the two activists in Shakma prison, where they are being held.
According to a representative of Adalah, the two detained activists said that their arrest was characterized by “extreme brutality,” and they were informed that they would be subjected to interrogation by the Israeli Internal Intelligence Service (Shin Bet) on suspicion of “belonging to a terrorist organization.”
According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saif Abu Kishk is “one of the leaders” of the Popular Congress of Palestinians Abroad, an organization accused by the United States and Israel of links to Hamas.
As for Thiago Avila, according to the Israeli Ministry, he “works with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad and is suspected of involvement in illegal activities.”
Brazil and Spain condemned their arrest, and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied any connection between its citizen and Hamas.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez said Saturday that Israel "has not provided any evidence to support this accusation."
He described the arrest of the Spanish citizen in international waters as “completely illegal,” “unacceptable,” and “beyond any legal authority” of Israel.
Read also: European countries condemn Israel’s interception of “Global Resilience Fleet” ships carrying aid heading to Gaza
The arrests, which Israel described as “peaceful,” occurred hundreds of kilometers from Gaza, in international waters off the island of Crete, much farther from the Israeli coast than previous flotilla interceptions. Several countries denounced the operation, describing it as "illegal."
Israel took most of the activists to the island of Crete, where they were disembarked after reaching an agreement with the Greek authorities, with the exception of Thiago Avila and Saif Abu Kishk.
France 24/AFP
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