Rights group says Gaza flotilla activists facing abuse in Israel jail

Security personnel escort Spanish activist Saif Abu Keshek to a court in Ashkelon on May 3, 2026. (Ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP)
Security personnel escort Spanish activist Saif Abu Keshek to a court in Ashkelon on May 3, 2026. (Ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP)

Two foreign activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla who have been detained in Israeli prison are facing psychological abuse, death threats and poor detention conditions, a rights group representing them says.

“Thiago Avila reported being subjected to repeated interrogations lasting up to eight hours. Interrogators have explicitly threatened him, stating he would either be ‘killed’ or ‘spend 100 years in jail,'” rights group Adalah, whose attorneys visited both activists today, says in a statement.

Adalah adds that a court will decide tomorrow whether to further extend Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Avila’s detention.

The Prison Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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 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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