Blindfolded & cold: Rights group says ‘Israel’ abusing two flotilla activists

‘Israeli’ authorities are expected to ask a court to extend the detention of two foreign activists by six days, as the pair face their second hearing on Tuesday, a rights group representing them said.

Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila were taken forcefully and brought to ‘Israel’ for questioning last week and are being held at an ‘Israeli’ prison in Ashkelon.

The two were among dozens of activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla raided by ‘Israeli’ forces off the coast of Greece early on Thursday.

At their first hearing on Sunday, the court extended their detention by two days. A second hearing is expected Tuesday.

“Our lawyers have been informed that the state is requesting for a six-day extension for the two activists,” Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at the ‘Israeli’ rights group Adalah, told AFP.

Adalah said the two activists were on hunger strike and Tuesday was the sixth day.

On Monday, the rights group reported the activists had been subjected to physical and psychological abuse in detention.

Both Abu Keshek and Avila are being held in isolation, with “high-intensity lighting” on at all times in their cells, Adalah said, adding that Avila was being held in “extremely cold temperatures.”

“They are kept blindfolded at all times whenever they are moved outside their cells, including during medical examinations,” it said.

‘Israeli’ authorities have rejected the abuse claims.

At Sunday’s hearing, Adalah said the state attorney had presented a list of offences the pair were accused of, including “assisting the enemy during wartime” and “membership in and providing services to a terrorist organization.”

But Adalah’s lawyers challenged the state’s jurisdiction, arguing there had been an “unlawful abduction” of the two activists in international waters.

‘Israel’s’ foreign ministry said both individuals were affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), a group accused by Washington of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” Hamas.

The ministry claimed Abu Keshek was a leading PCPA member, and that Avila was also linked to the group and “suspected of illegal activity.”

The flotilla’s vessels had set sail from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking ‘Israel’s’ blockade of Gaza and bringing humanitarian supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory.

But they were raided by ‘Israeli’ forces off the coast of Greece.

The Global Sumud Flotilla’s first voyage last year was also intercepted by ‘Israeli’ forces off the coasts of Egypt and Gaza.

‘Israel’ controls all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an ‘Israeli’ siege since 2007.

Throughout the Gaza war that started in October 2023, there have been shortages of critical supplies in the territory, with ‘Israel’ at times cutting off aid entirely.