JERUSALEM: Two activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla, arrested off the coast of Greece, have been brought to Israel for questioning, a move Spain has condemned as “illegal”.
The flotilla of more than 50 vessels had set sail from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking an Israeli blockade of Gaza and bringing supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory.
They were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece early on Thursday, with Israel saying it had removed some 175 activists -- two of whom were taken to Israel for questioning.
Organisers accused Israel of “kidnapping” 211 people.
On the social media platform X, Israel’s foreign ministry identified the pair as Saif Abu Keshek from Spain and Thiago Avila, a Brazilian national, saying were taken to Israel “for questioning by law enforcement authorities”.
But Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares denounced the detention of Abu Keshek as “illegal”, saying it would further stain deteriorating bilateral ties.
“This is an illegal detention in international waters, outside any jurisdiction of the Israeli authorities, meaning Saif Abu Keshek must be released immediately so he can return to Spain,” Albares told Rac1 radio.
“This episode further strains our relationship... because this situation is unacceptable, a state should not behave in this manner.”
Ties between Israel and Spain have nosedived since the Gaza war sparked by the October 2023 cross-border attacks by Palestinian group Hamas, with Israel angered by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s criticism of its bombardment of the Palestinian territory. Both countries have withdrawn their ambassadors. Israel’s foreign ministry said the two activists were affiliated with an organisation that was sanctioned by the US Treasury.
That group -- the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) -- has been accused by Washington of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The Treasury said the organisation had played a role in organising other Gaza-bound flotillas aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade.
