Overview
- - A district court in Israel rejected an appeal to free Thiago Avila and Saif Abukeshek and kept them in custody until Sunday, with both men reported on hunger strike.
- - The UN human rights office urged their immediate release and pressed for an investigation into reports of beatings and sexual groping during the April 29 seizure in international waters off Crete.
- - Israeli authorities claim the pair have ties to the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad and other banned groups, while Spain’s foreign minister and the legal NGO Adalah say no evidence has been shown and the arrests lacked jurisdiction.
- - Brazil asked for a temporary furlough so Avila could attend his mother’s funeral, which the court declined, as protests and calls for action spread across Europe and inside Italy.
- - Flotilla organizers say other civilian boats will keep sailing and reported helicopter and drone surveillance in the Ionian Sea after the seizure, while Italy’s debate has sharpened with senior figures attacking or defending the mission.