Spanish FM says no justification for Israel's arrest of flotilla activists

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Tuesday there was "no evidence" to justify what he called the "illegal" arrest of activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, reported Xinhua.

Speaking on Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, Albares said Palestinian-Spanish Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian national Thiago Avila were detained after their flotilla, which had departed from Spain, was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near Crete, around 600 km from the Israeli coast.

He said Israel had not presented evidence linking Keshek or Avila with the alleged charges of "collaborating with the enemy in times of war, contacting a foreign agent, belonging to a terrorist organization and providing it with services, and transferring assets to a terrorist organization."

Albares said he would avoid comments that could affect Keshek's situation, adding that neither country would "abandon" its citizens.

"This is a completely illegal detention; no Israeli agent has jurisdiction in international waters," insisted Albares.

Spain is working with Brazil on a joint response to the arrests, he added.

Israeli court extends detention of 2 activists by 6 days

An Israeli court on Tuesday extended by six days the detention of two activists detained aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters by the Israeli navy last week, reported Xinhua.

The activists, Thiago Avila of Brazil and Saif Abu Keshek of Spain, were brought to Israel after Israeli forces seized the vessels. Others aboard the flotilla were reportedly taken to the Greek island of Crete and released.

During the hearing at the Ashkelon Magistrate's Court, police told the court the two were suspected of aiding an enemy, contact with a foreign agent, and ties to a terrorist organization. Court documents show police identified the pair as "dominant figures" in the flotilla and claimed to possess material supporting the allegations.

Adalah, an Israel-based rights group representing the men, said both have launched a hunger strike and deny all charges. Adalah lawyers described the accusations as "baseless" and alleged the men are being held in harsh conditions and subjected to abuse.

The lawyers further argued that Israel lacks jurisdiction, noting the activists were detained more than 1,000 kilometers from Gaza and are not Israeli citizens.

Israeli authorities have declined to release specific evidence, citing the ongoing investigation.