Israel deports two activists it had abducted from Gaza-bound Sumud 2 flotilla

Israel has deported two activists from the occupied territories who had been abducted by the regime from the Gaza-bound Sumud 2 flotilla in international waters.

Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were among dozens of activists sailing with the flotilla when it was intercepted by the Israeli navy off the coast of the Greek island of Crete on April 30.

The pair were seized by Israeli armed forces and taken to the occupied territories for questioning, while others were taken to Crete and released.

In a video shared on social media, Abu Keshek said he had arrived in Athens, Greece, and thanked his legal team.

“I want to thank everyone who mobilized, our legal team Adalah, my family, my wife and children, my colleagues in the movement,” he said in the video shared by the Global Sumud Flotilla on X.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed Abu Keshek was suspected of affiliation with a “terrorist” organization, and Avila was suspected of illegal activity.

Both categorically denied the allegations, saying they were on a humanitarian mission for Gaza’s civilian population and their arrest in international waters was unlawful.

Gaza aid flotilla activists tortured in Israeli custody after being kidnapped in intl. waters, testimony shows

New testimony has revealed that two activists abroad the Gaza-bound Sumud-2 flotilla have suffered torture and beatings after being kidnapped in international waters.

The Global Sumud Flotilla had set sail from France, Spain, and Italy with the aim of breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

The flotilla’s first voyage last year was also intercepted by Israeli armed forces off the coasts of Egypt and Gaza.

The Israeli regime controls all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.

Since Israel launched its genocidal assault on Gaza on October 7, 2023, it has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and wounded at least 172,000 others, most of them children and women.

Furthermore, the Israeli regime has completely destroyed Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, sports facilities, power plants, water reservoirs, and residential areas.

As a result, the people of Gaza have become refugees in the besieged territory, completely dependent on foreign aid, which rarely enters the region due to Israeli blockades.

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