Two Gaza aid flotilla activists brought in for questioning, says Israel

JERUSALEM - Two activists who participated in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla have been brought to Israel for questioning, the country’s foreign ministry said on May 2, after the vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces this week.

The flotilla of more than 50 vessels had set sail from ports in France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking the blockade of Gaza and bringing supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory.

They were intercepted by Israeli forces overnight from April 29 to April 30.

Israel said it had removed around 175 activists from the flotilla, but organisers accused Israeli personnel of “kidnapping” 211 activists.

Two of the activists, Mr Saif Abu Keshek, from Spain, and Mr Thiago Avila, a Brazilian, were in Israel and would “be transferred for questioning by law enforcement authorities”, the ministry said on social media platform X.

It also said the pair were affiliated with an organisation that was sanctioned in January by the US Treasury.

That group – the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) – has been accused by Washington of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Treasury said the organisation had played a role in organising other Gaza-bound flotillas aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade.

The United States has backed the Israeli authorities, calling the flotilla a “stunt”.

Israel’s foreign ministry said Mr Abu Keshek was a leading member of PCPA and Mr Avila, also linked to the organisation, was “suspected of illegal activity”.

“Both will receive a consular visit from the representatives of their respective countries in Israel,” the ministry said.

Mr Avila was among the organisers of a flotilla that had tried to bring aid to Gaza in 2025 despite the naval blockade. That effort was also intercepted by Israeli forces.

Israel controls all entry points to Gaza.

Throughout the war sparked by Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel, there have been shortages of critical supplies in Gaza, with Israel at points cutting off the entry of aid entirely.

Organisers of the latest flotilla said the Israeli interception took place over 1,000km from Gaza.

They said their equipment was smashed and the intervention left them facing a “calculated death trap at sea”.

Dozens disembarked on May 1 on the Greek island of Crete, according to an AFP journalist.

Organisers published photos on X showing two activists with bruises on their faces, while one participant said in footage that Israeli forces had “beaten” them “several times”.

Hamas condemned the interception, alleging the activists had been abused and assaulted.

The Palestinian movement urged rights groups to pursue legal action against the Israeli authorities for “their crimes against the Global Sumud Flotilla, ensuring they do not enjoy impunity”.

“We reiterate our pride in the international activists for their determination to continue their humanitarian efforts to break the siege on Gaza despite the criminal Zionist enemy’s terrorism and threats,” Hamas said.

The Global Sumud Flotilla’s first Mediterranean voyage towards Gaza in the summer and autumn of 2025 drew worldwide attention, before Israeli forces intercepted the boats off the coasts of Egypt and the Gaza Strip in early October.

Crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were arrested and expelled by Israeli forces. AFP