Israel to release two detained Gaza flotilla activists

"Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish-Palestinian, and Brazilian Thiago Avila will be freed on Saturday, according to a statement from the rights group Adalah, which was representing the two men. The pair will be handed over to immigration authorities and held in custody pending their deportation. Hadeel Abu Salih, the lawyer who co-represented the pair in Israeli courts, told Al Jazeera that they are expected to be released to their home countries in the coming days. Adalah said it is closely monitoring the situation to ensure the release goes ahead."

"Abu Keshek and Avila were among dozens of activists who set sail for Gaza as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off the coast of Greece. While the other 168 members of the flotilla were taken to Crete and then released, the two were taken to Israel and detained for further questioning. The vessel was part of a humanitarian effort seeking to reach Gaza with aid amid the ongoing war and Israel's blockade."

"Abu Salih said their abduction was a clear violation of international law. The lawyer said throughout this ordeal, the legal team argued that this entire process was a sham proceeding with no legal basis, intended to punish them for attempting to challenge Israel's illegal blockade. During their detention, Abu Kushek and Avila were held in total isolation under punitive conditions despite the purely civilian nature of their mission, Adalah said."

"It added that both activists were on a hunger strike, with Abu Keshek escalating his protest by refusing water since Tuesday. Israeli authorities have been accused of abuse, but they have denied this. On Tuesday, an Israeli court extended their detention."

Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish-Palestinian, and Thiago Avila, a Brazilian, are expected to be released on Saturday. They will be handed over to immigration authorities and held in custody pending deportation. Their legal representatives say they should be released to their home countries in the coming days, and a rights group will monitor the process. The two were detained after the Global Sumud Flotilla was intercepted in international waters off the coast of Greece. While most members were released, they were taken to Israel for further questioning. Their detention involved isolation and punitive conditions, and both were on hunger strike, with Abu Keshek refusing water. Their legal team argued the proceedings lacked legal basis and aimed to punish them for challenging Israel’s blockade.

Read at www.aljazeera.com