Gaza Herald – The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has expressed serious concern over what it describes as arbitrary legal and investigative measures taken by Israeli authorities against international activists involved in a humanitarian mission.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the organization said Spanish activist Saif Abu Kishk and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila appeared before a court in Ashkelon for the second time in two days, following the interception of vessels linked to the Sumoud Flotilla by Israeli naval forces in international waters near Crete.
According to the statement, the court ordered their detention extended for an additional six days without formal charges, based on vague suspicions and classified evidence that neither the detainees nor their legal team was allowed to review, raising serious concerns about due process.
The reported accusations include “assisting the enemy during wartime,” “contact with a foreign agent,” and “membership in a terrorist organization,” all of which have been firmly denied by the activists and their defense team.
The organization noted that both men are being held under harsh conditions, including complete isolation, constant exposure to intense lighting, and blindfolding during transfers, even during medical examinations. They have also reportedly been on hunger strike since April 30 in protest of their detention.
Testimonies cited by the group indicate that the activists were subjected to physical and psychological abuse from the moment of their interception at sea. They were allegedly restrained for prolonged periods under degrading conditions, with one reportedly losing consciousness after being assaulted, while the other was isolated and subjected to severe mistreatment.
The organization emphasized that intercepting civilian vessels in international waters and transferring those on board to Israel raises serious legal concerns regarding jurisdiction and constitutes a violation of freedom of navigation on the high seas. It also warned against the misuse of counterterrorism laws to criminalize peaceful humanitarian activity.
Euro-Med Monitor further stressed that continued detention without formal charges, combined with reliance on secret evidence, may amount to arbitrary detention lacking the basic guarantees of a fair trial.
The organization called on the international community to take immediate action to secure the activists’ unconditional release, ensure their access to legal counsel and family contact, and provide prompt consular assistance.
It also urged the governments of Spain and Brazil to initiate legal investigations into the incident and hold those responsible accountable, emphasizing that protecting humanitarian action requires addressing the root cause, namely, the ongoing blockade on Gaza.
