From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
2 flotilla activists on hunger strike; Israel to seek 6-day remand, their lawyers say
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Authorities are expected to ask a court to extend by six days the detention of two foreign activists detained after the Navy interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla, as the pair face their second hearing today, a rights group representing them says.
Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila were brought to Israel for questioning last week and are being held at a prison in Ashkelon.
At their first hearing on Sunday, the court extended their detention by two days.
“Our lawyers have been informed that the state is requesting a six-day extension for the two activists,” Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at the Israeli rights group Adalah, tells AFP.
Adalah says the two activists are on hunger strike and today is the sixth day.
The activists were among more than 170 detained by Israel last week when the flotilla seeking to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza was intercepted by the Israeli Navy in international waters. The remainder were all freed Friday in Greece.
Israel says that Abu Keshek and Avila are affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), which has been accused by the US Treasury of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” Hamas.
The Times of Israel Community.