Israel will release on Saturday the two members of the Flotilla detained
The Catalan-Palestinian Saif Abukeshek and the Brazilian Thiago Ávila have been detained since the Israeli army stormed the civilian mission last week
BarcelonaThe human rights organization Adalah announced this Saturday that the two Flotilla activists detained by Israel will be released "today". In a statement, Adalah details that, according to information from the Israeli authorities, both "will remain in custody pending their deportation". The Catalan-Palestinian Saif Abukeshek and the Brazilian Thiago Ávila were detained by Israel last week, when the Israeli army stormed the Flotilla near Crete, in international waters.
The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, also confirmed the release which, according to information from the Israeli authorities to the Spanish ones, will occur "in the coming hours". La Moncloa detailed that, according to Israel, the deportation will be done through Egypt. This week, a court had extended the detention of the two activists until tomorrow, Sunday.
Sally Issa, Abukeshek's partner, learned the news during the demonstration that was held this Saturday morning in Barcelona in front of the European Union headquarters, on Paseo de Gracia, precisely to demand the release of the two detainees and in support of Palestine. "It is a very important moment. We must continue mobilizing until the end of the genocide, until the blockade of Gaza is broken and until the Palestinian people are liberated," Issa expressed emotionally.
Aubkeshek has been detained by the Israeli authorities since last Thursday, after Israel intercepted the Flotilla heading to Gaza near Crete, in international waters. Through her lawyers, Issa has denounced in recent days the "torture" that she claims Abukeshek has received from Israel. Furthermore, the two prisoners had started a hunger strike, and in the case of the Catalan-Palestinian, it was also a thirst strike.
The defense of the two civilians, led by the human rights organization Adalah, had repeatedly requested their release, emphasizing that no formal charges were presented at the court hearing. The detention was maintained, according to the official Israeli version, "for purposes of ongoing interrogation". Adalah, furthermore, has recalled in recent days that the activists were kidnapped in international waters, more than 1,000 kilometers from Gaza and without being Israeli citizens. For these reasons, the organization has stressed that Israeli legislation is not applicable to them.
