Two foreign activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla who were seized and brought to Israel for interrogation appeared before an Israeli court on Sunday, a rights group defending them said.
The flotilla of more than 50 vessels had set sail from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking an Israeli blockade of Gaza and bringing humanitarian supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory.
They were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece early on Thursday, with Israel saying it had removed some 175 activists – two of whom were taken to Israel for questioning.
Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila appeared before a court in Ashkelon on Sunday.
“The state asked to extend their detention by four days,” said Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at the rights group Adalah.
On Saturday, Adalah said its lawyers had met the two detained activists at Shikma Prison in Ashkelon.
Avila told the lawyers he had been “subjected to extreme brutality” when the vessels were seized, adding that he was “dragged face-down across the floor and beaten so severely that he passed out twice”.
Since arriving in Israel, he said he had been “kept in isolation and blindfolded”, according to Adalah.
Abu Keshek was also “hand-tied and blindfolded … and forced to lie face-down on the floor from the moment of his seizure” until reaching Israel, the group said.
Israel’s foreign ministry alleged the two activists were affiliated with an organisation that was sanctioned by the US Treasury.
That group – the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) – has been accused by Washington of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” Palestinian group Hamas.
Israel’s foreign ministry alleged that Abu Keshek was a leading member of the PCPA, and that Avila was also linked to the organisation and “suspected of illegal activity”.
Spain has condemned the detention of Avila and rejected the Israeli accusation against him.
