Two Gaza aid flotilla activists brought to Israel for 'questioning', foreign ministry says

TWO ACTIVISTS WHO participated in the latest Gaza-bound aid flotilla have been brought to Israel for questioning, the country’s foreign ministry said today, after the vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces this week.

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

The two men were among around 200 people taken from flotilla boats when they were intercepted by Israeli forces off the coast of Greece earlier this week. Around 180 of those activists were brought to Crete, organisers said. There were seven Irish among those taken from their boats. 

The Israeli foreign ministry said today the two activists were affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), a Palestinian diaspora group that Washington has accused of “clandestinely acting on behalf of Hamas”.

In January, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on the group, along with six charitable organisations based in Gaza, which it said were secretly operated by Hamas. 

At the time, the group said the sanctions wee “part of a continued pattern of political targeting against Palestinian structures and organisations operating abroad”.

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

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

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

Israel does not have jurisdiction in the international waters in which its forces intercepted the boats.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said yesterday he would be raising the matter within the European Union.

“The international community have to call out Israel for this,” Martin said.

He added that it was “not acceptable” for Israel to seize the flotilla in international waters.

“Israel has to abide by international law and the rule of law,” Martin added.

The boats left in the flotilla have gathered in Crete and organisers have said they intend to press on and break the blockade of the devastated Palestinian territory, where Israel has continued to restrict the entry of aid and kill people despite a nominal ceasefire.

With reporting from AFP