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UN Demands Israel Free Flotilla Activists
(MENAFN) The United Nations stepped into the Global Sumud Flotilla detention crisis on Tuesday, calling for the immediate release of Brazilian activist Thiago de Avila and Spanish-Palestinian national Saif Abukeshek following an Israeli court's decision to extend their captivity.
"They should be released," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said bluntly during a press conference when questioned about the pair's ongoing detention, offering no additional elaboration on the matter.
Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla on April 30 near the Greek island of Crete, approximately 600 nautical miles from Gaza — a territory already devastated by a prolonged blockade. Israeli advocacy organization Adalah, which represents Palestinian citizens inside Israel, confirmed in a statement obtained by Anadolu that both activists are set to remain in custody until May 10.
Defence lawyers argued forcefully at the detention hearing that "the allegations against them are baseless and that there is no legal justification for their continued detention," according to Adalah.
The conditions under which the two are being held have drawn particular alarm. Adalah revealed Monday that de Avila and Abukeshek have been subjected to "death threats" inside Israeli detention facilities, where they are confined in complete isolation beneath continuous bright lighting around the clock — conditions human rights observers say raise serious legal and humanitarian concerns.
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