Court extends detention of two Gaza flotilla activists by two days, says rights group

Security personnel escort Brazilian activist Thiago Avila to a court in Ashkelon on May 3, 2026. (Ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP)
Security personnel escort Brazilian activist Thiago Avila to a court in Ashkelon on May 3, 2026. (Ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP)

An Israeli court approves a two-day extension to the detention of two foreign activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla who were brought to Israel for questioning, a rights group representing them tells AFP.

“The court extended their detention by two days,” says Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at the rights group Adalah.

Israeli authorities had asked to extend their detention by four days, Azem said earlier.

The activists, Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila, were among more than 170 detained by Israel last week when the flotilla 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.

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