Israel to release two Gaza flotilla activists from prison: rights group

Activist Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national, who was detained aboard the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, appears at a court in Beersheba, southern Israel May 6, 2026. (Reuters)
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JERUSALEM: Israel will release two foreign activists taken off a Gaza-bound flotilla from detention on Saturday before handing them to immigration authorities ahead of their deportation, the rights group representing them said.
“Today, the Shabak Israeli intelligence agency informed Adalah’s legal team that Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) activists and leaders Thiago Avila and Saif Abukeshek would be released from Israeli detention today, Saturday 9 May 2026,” Adalah said in a statement, adding the pair “will be handed to Israel’s immigration authorities later today and kept in custody pending their deportation.”
Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila were brought to Israel for questioning last week after their flotilla was intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters off Greece.