Two humanitarian activists from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla have appeared before an Israeli court following their unlawful abduction by Israeli forces in international waters.

According to the legal advocacy group Adalah, Spanish activist Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian national Thiago Avila attended a court hearing in Ashkelon on Sunday after being forcibly taken by Israeli authorities.

The two were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the blockade on Gaza. The flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near Greece, with dozens of participants detained and transferred to Crete, while Abu Keshek and Avila were taken to Israel for interrogation.

The court ordered the activists’ detention to be extended by two days, despite no formal charges being filed. According to Adalah, the pair face accusations including alleged links to a “terrorist organisation” and contact with foreign agents—claims strongly rejected by their legal team.

Adalah lawyers argued in court that the proceedings are “flawed and illegal,” stressing that Israel has no legal jurisdiction over foreign nationals seized in international waters. The group described the case as a retaliatory move targeting humanitarian activists seeking to challenge the blockade on Gaza.

The Spanish government has condemned the detention of Abu Keshek, describing his seizure as a “kidnapping” and rejecting the allegations against him. Rights advocates say the entire process—from interception to detention—violates international law.

“This whole process is unlawful from the outset,” said a representative from Adalah, pointing to the activists’ capture in international waters and subsequent transfer to Israeli custody.

During a visit to Shikma Prison, Adalah lawyers reported that both activists described severe mistreatment in detention.

According to testimonies, Avila was subjected to “extreme brutality,” including being beaten, dragged face-down, and losing consciousness twice. The group said he showed visible signs of physical abuse and was later held in isolation while blindfolded.

Abu Keshek similarly reported being restrained, blindfolded, and forced into stress positions during his detention.

Adalah characterized the treatment as amounting to torture and a clear violation of international law, calling for immediate accountability.

Both activists have launched a hunger strike in protest of their detention, though they continue to consume water, the rights group said.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is part of a broader international effort to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge the ongoing blockade imposed on the territory. Previous missions have also been intercepted, with activists detained and deported.

Human rights advocates argue that such missions are a legitimate form of peaceful resistance aimed at drawing global attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the restrictions imposed on its population.

As legal proceedings continue, calls are mounting for the immediate release of the detained activists and an end to actions targeting humanitarian initiatives supporting the Palestinian people. (ILKHA)