Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, May 9: Israeli authorities are set to release two activists associated with a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla after detaining them earlier this week, according to rights group Adalah.
The two activists — Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila — are expected to be handed over to immigration authorities on Saturday before being deported to their respective home countries.
Adalah, which is representing the activists legally, said it is “closely monitoring” the process to ensure their release proceeds as planned.
Lawyer Hadeel Abu Salih, who co-represented the pair in Israeli courts, told Al Jazeera that the activists are expected to return to their countries “in the coming days”.
Abu Keshek and Avila were among dozens of activists who sailed towards Gaza as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian mission aimed at delivering aid amid the ongoing conflict and blockade in Gaza.
According to reports, the flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off the coast of Greece.
While 168 other activists were reportedly taken to Crete and later released, Abu Keshek and Avila were transferred to Israel and detained for further questioning.
Adalah alleged that the activists were held in isolation under punitive conditions despite participating in what it described as a civilian humanitarian mission.
The rights group also stated that both activists had launched a hunger strike during detention, with Abu Keshek reportedly refusing water since Tuesday as part of his protest.
Israeli authorities have denied allegations of abuse.
Earlier this week, an Israeli court reportedly extended their detention until Sunday despite no formal charges being filed against them. However, the pair faced accusations of links to “terrorist organisations and foreign agents”, according to Adalah.
Lawyer Abu Salih rejected the allegations, describing the detention and interception as violations of international law.
“Israel’s actions in this case, including unlawful interception, arbitrary detention and ill-treatment, constitute serious violations of international law,” she said.
The humanitarian flotilla mission was organised amid increasing international concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza following the ongoing conflict and restrictions on aid access