Israel will release two foreign activists taken off a Gaza-bound flotilla from detention today then hand them to immigration authorities ahead of their deportation, the rights group representing them says.
“Today, the Shabak Israeli intelligence agency informed Adalah’s legal team that Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) activists and leaders Thiago Avila and Saif Abukeshek would be released from Israeli detention today, Saturday 9 May 2026,” Adalah says in a statement, adding the pair “will be handed to Israel’s immigration authorities later today and kept in custody pending their deportation.”
Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila were brought to Israel for questioning last week after their flotilla was intercepted by the Israeli Navy in international waters off Greece.
The Foreign Ministry said both individuals were affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), a group Washington says is “clandestinely controlled by Hamas,” referring to the Palestinian terror group. The PCPA is sanctioned by Israel and the US.
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Saturday, May 9, 2026
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