• Israeli court extends detention of two activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla by two days.
• Activists accuse Israeli authorities of severe torture and isolation during detention.
• Spain demands the immediate release of one of its detained nationals, Saif Abu Keshek.
• The flotilla aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza amid ongoing blockades.
• The Israeli government has linked the activists to alleged affiliations with Hamas.

On May 3, 2026, an Israeli court extended the detention of two foreign activists, Saif Abu Keshek from Spain and Thiago Avila from Brazil, who were intercepted by Israeli forces during their Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla. The activists were part of a group that set sail with the intention of breaking the Israeli blockade of Gaza, but were apprehended in international waters off Greece. The court approved the state’s request to hold them for an additional two days without formal charges, despite their lawyers arguing that their detention is unlawful and constitutes a “retaliatory measure” against humanitarian activists, according to SCMP, Al Jazeera, and Le Monde.

Both Abu Keshek and Avila have shared harrowing accounts of their treatment during detention, alleging severe physical abuse by Israeli military personnel. Avila reported being “dragged face-down across the floor and beaten so severely that he passed out twice,” whereas Abu Keshek described being “hand-tied and blindfolded” and forced into uncomfortable positions for extended periods. The human rights group Adalah, which is representing the activists, condemned their treatment as tantamount to torture, further asserting that no legal basis exists for the extraterritorial application of charges against them based on actions in international waters, as stated by Al Jazeera and Le Monde.

International reactions have been significant, particularly from Spain, which has called for the immediate release of Abu Keshek, asserting that his detention is unlawful. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has emphasized his government’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad and upholding international law, stating that they would always demand justice for unlawful detentions, as reported by SCMP and Al Jazeera.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of around 50 vessels, aims to deliver supplies to Gaza, which has faced an Israeli blockade since 2007. Despite the interception of most activists, Abu Keshek and Avila remain the only ones still in custody, now described as part of a broader humanitarian mission challenging the ongoing blockade. The flotilla's previous voyages have attracted global attention, with previous incidents involving notable activists and denunciations of similar Israeli actions as acts of piracy, according to Le Monde and Al Jazeera.