An Israeli court extended on Sunday (May 3) by two days the arrest of two activists detained aboard a flotilla bound for Gaza and intercepted by the Israeli forces in international waters near Greece, their lawyer said.

Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national and Brazilian Thiago Avila were detained by Israeli authorities and brought to Israel while more than 100 other pro-Palestinian activists aboard the boats were taken to the Greek island of Crete.

The activists were part of a second Global Sumud flotilla, launched in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance, according to organisers. The ships set sail from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12 and were intercepted late on Wednesday (April 29).

Israeli authorities requested a four-day extension of their arrest on suspicion of offences that include assisting the enemy during wartime, contact with a foreign agent, membership in and providing services to a terrorist organization, and the transfer of property for a terrorist organization, said rights group Adalah, which is assisting in the activists' defence.

Hadeel Abu Salih, the men's attorney, said that the two deny the allegations. She added that Abu Keshek and Avila were subjected to violence en route to Israel and kept handcuffed and blindfolded until Thursday (April 30) morning.

The Israeli foreign ministry denied the accusations and said that "Contrary to the false and baseless claims prepared in advance, at no point were Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila subjected to torture." adding that all physical contact with the detainees was followed by "violent physical obstruction by Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila against Israeli staff members, staff were compelled to act in order to stop these actions."

The Brazilian and Spanish governments issued a joint statement on Friday (May 1) that said their detention was illegal.

Israel's foreign ministry called the flotilla organisers "professional provocateurs" and said: "Israel will not allow the breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza."

Spokespeople for the Israeli court and the Shin Bet domestic security service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ASHKELON, ISRAEL (MAY 3, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. BRAZILIAN THIAGO AVILA BEING LED INTO ISRAELI COURTROOM FOR A HEARING OF EXTENSION OF HIS DETENTION AFTER HE WAS DETAINED AT SEA ON BOARD OF A GAZA-BOUND FLOTILLA

2. AVILA

3. AVILA'S LEGS CUFFED

4. AVILA BEING LED OUT OF COURTROOM

5. EMPTY JUDGE'S SEAT IN COURTROOM

6. STATE OF ISRAEL'S EMBLEM

7. SPANISH NATIONAL OF PALESTINIAN ORIGIN, SAIF ABU KESHEK BEING LED INTO ISRAELI COURTROOM FOR A HEARING OF EXTENSION OF HIS DETENTION AFTER HE WAS DETAINED AT SEA ON BOARD OF A GAZA-BOUND FLOTILLA

8. ABU KESHEK

9. ABU KESHEK'S HANDS

10. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN COURT

11. LAWYER REPRESENTING THE TWO DETAINEES, HADEEL ABU SALIH ENTERING COURTROOM, DOOR CLOSING

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER REPRESENTING THE TWO DETAINEES, HADEEL ABU SALIH, SAYING:

"As we've seen today, the court basically extended the arrest in additional two days, although the Shabak (Israel's security service Shin Bet) asked for four days."

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER REPRESENTING THE TWO DETAINEES, HADEEL ABU SALIH, SAYING:

"We deny all accusations that were represented today in the court hearing. And we believe and demand that those two men must be released immediately, immediately."

14. ABU SALIH DURING INTERVIEW

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER REPRESENTING THE TWO DETAINEES, HADEEL ABU SALIH, SAYING:

"It's important in the beginning to note that both of them were subjected to torture and violence since the moment they were abducted by the Israeli navy, they were kept handcuffed and blindfolded. Since Thursday morning until they were moved to the authority of the Israeli prison authority. Today, in the court hearing, the Shabak claimed that they are accusing them of being affiliated with a terrorist organization, of helping enemy during wartime and giving services to a terrorist organization."

16. ABU SALIH DURING INTERVIEW

17. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF COURT