Overview
- Italian prosecutors opened an inquiry into unlawful detention after complaints that two flotilla activists were seized on a ship sailing under Italy’s flag.
- Israeli forces, which seized about 20 flotilla boats Thursday near Crete, escorted most of the roughly 175 participants to the island under Greek coast guard supervision.
- The two detainees — Spaniard Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Ávila — were transferred to Israel for questioning, and an Ashkelon court extended their detention by two days on Sunday.
- Lawyers with the Israeli rights group Adalah said both men reported severe physical abuse and are on hunger strike in protest.
- Spain and Brazil lodged formal protests over the transfers, while Israel alleges the men have ties to Hamas and the diaspora group PCPA, which the United States has previously sanctioned.