Israeli Court Extends Detention of 'Freedom Flotilla' Activists Amid Torture Allegations

The Israeli occupation's Magistrate's Court in Ashkelon, on Tuesday, issued a decision to extend the detention of Brazilian activist Thiago de Avila and Spanish activist of Palestinian origin Saif Abu Kishk for an additional six days. This decision comes days after occupation forces intercepted the 'Global Freedom Flotilla' in international waters and took the activists to interrogation centers, where they are scheduled to remain in detention until May 10, under the pretext of completing investigative procedures.

For its part, the defense team from the 'Adalah' Legal Center affirmed that the arrest operation lacks any sound legal justification, noting that the court responded to the occupation authorities' request despite no formal charges being brought against the detainees. The lawyers stressed that the activists were intercepted in international waters off the coast of Crete, more than a thousand kilometers from the Gaza Strip, raising major questions about the jurisdiction of the Israeli judiciary to prosecute foreign nationals who were abducted outside its territorial jurisdiction.

Regarding the detention conditions, the 'Adalah' Center revealed that the activists were subjected to harsh and inhumane treatment inside the occupation's cells, including complete solitary confinement and exposure to strong, continuous lighting around the clock to prevent them from sleeping. Human rights reports also stated that the detainees are handcuffed and blindfolded during transfers and even during medical examinations, which constitutes a blatant violation of international conventions concerning prisoners' rights.

In protest of these arbitrary practices, de Avila and Abu Kishk have been on an open hunger strike since April 30, consuming only water to express their rejection of the illegal detention. In response, the occupation authorities attempted to justify their actions with claims about the activists' involvement in activities linked to hostile parties, allegations that the defense refuted entirely, describing them as an attempt to legitimize the piracy that occurred on the high seas.

On the international level, the incident sparked a wave of diplomatic condemnation, with the Spanish government describing the arrest of its citizens in international waters as an unacceptable and illegal act. In a related context, Italian authorities announced the opening of an official investigation into the circumstances of the incident, given that the interception and boarding operation targeted a boat flying the Italian flag, which gives the case international legal dimensions that may pursue the occupation in foreign judicial forums.

Adalah Center announced that it is in the process of appealing to the Central Court to challenge the decision to extend the detention, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all activists who were detained during the humanitarian mission. Occupation forces carried out a large-scale piracy operation last week targeting 21 boats within the Freedom Flotilla, carrying approximately 175 activists of various nationalities seeking to break the naval blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.

These developments come at a time when the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip is intensifying, having entered its seventeenth year, leaving unprecedented humanitarian disasters, especially in light of the ongoing war of extermination that has led to the displacement of millions. The movements of the Freedom Flotillas are considered a symbolic and practical attempt to highlight the suffering of the Strip's residents, but they always face violent military responses from the occupation authorities who seek to isolate Gaza from the outside world.

The continued detention of the activists falls under the pretext of completing the investigation without any legal basis or formal charges being brought against them to date.