BREAKING: Israel extends the detention of Spanish and Brazilian activists from the Gaza aid flotilla | International
New information reveals that the following story has emerged from the international scene.
Israel extends the detention of Saif Abu Kesheh and Thiago Ávila until next Tuesday, after its Navy intercepted the flotilla with aid for Gaza on Thursday when it was sailing in international waters. Both, prominent members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, have been transferred to the Shikma prison in Ashkelon. During the hearing, the prosecution requested a four-day extension, but the court limited it to two this Sunday. The Israeli authorities accuse the activists of collaborating with the enemy in time of war, of contacting a foreign agent, of belonging to a terrorist organization and of transferring assets to this type of entity. Both the Spanish and Brazilian activists have reported mistreatment during their detention, including episodes of violence, isolation and being held blindfolded for days on the high seas, according to their defense, led by the Adalah organization. Both have remained on hunger strike since their arrest and demand their immediate release. Hours earlier, several consular representatives had assisted the detainees. The Brazilian embassy confirmed that Ávila had visible marks on his face and significant pain, especially in his shoulder. The activist was separated by glass at all times. In conversation with his lawyers, he claimed to have been subjected to beatings and degrading treatment during his arrest and transfer. After the interception of the flotilla, both activists were transferred to Israeli territory from where they were, more than 1,000 kilometers from the coast of Crete (Greece). They are the only two participants in it who remain detained. Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, detained by Israeli authorities. Yoav Etiel (Walla) Before his arrest, Abu Kesheh had warned, in conversation with EL PAÍS, about the dangers of the mission and the need for international pressure to reduce them. “This is what a criminal Government represents,” he said. “These risks exist and we have been very clear with people. The only way to mitigate them is to work outside, so that the political cost of these risks helps prevent them.” In that same conversation, the activist confirmed that his intention was to arrive before the orange line that Israel has imposed for the blockade. A limit that Israel has extended to the Mediterranean. Twenty European cities have held demonstrations in support of the detainees. In all of them their immediate release has been demanded. Ávila has communicated that they will not abandon the hunger strike and that he will not accept his release unless it is with his companion. The Global Sumud Flotilla denounces that both were transferred to a prison known for housing Palestinian detainees in severe conditions, and calls for urgent diplomatic intervention. This episode has added more ammunition to the confrontation between the Spanish and Israeli governments. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, already denounced last Saturday that the two arrests, one of them of a Spanish citizen, are illegal because they occurred in international waters. The matter will be discussed in an extraordinary emergency plenary session convened in the Congress of Deputies for next Thursday. It was done after Albares agreed to the request of several groups for him to appear in the Chamber, where the ordinary plenary sessions were suspended so as not to collide with the campaign for the regional elections in Andalusia.
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Source: This article was originally published in another language by Internacional en EL PAÍS and has been translated and adapted for our global English-speaking audience. Read the original article here.