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Two foreign activists who were seized from a Gaza-bound flotilla on April 30, 2026, have been deported from Israel.
A rights group representing them described their deportation as a “punitive attack” on a civilian mission.
Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian Thiago Avila were among dozens of activists aboard a flotilla intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters off the coast of Greece on April 30, 2026.
Keshek and Avila were seized by Israeli forces and brought to Israel for questioning, while the others were taken to the Greek island of Crete and released.
The Israeli foreign ministry, in a post shared on X on Sunday, said the duo were deported from Israel on Sunday following an investigation. The ministry added that Israel would “not allow any breach” of its blockade on Gaza.
Spain, Brazil and the United Nations had all called for the men’s swift release. An Israeli court rejected an appeal contesting the pair’s detention on Wednesday.
“The use of detention and interrogation against activists and human rights defenders is an unacceptable attempt to suppress global solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.”
AFP reported that the 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 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 blockade 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.
