Two activists who participated in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla were brought to Israel for questioning, the foreign ministry said on Saturday, after the vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces this week. Saif Abu Keshek, from Spain, and Thiago Avila, a Brazilian, were in Israel and would “be transferred for questioning by law enforcement authorities”, the ministry said on X, adding that the two activists were affiliated with an organisation sanctioned by the US Treasury. The ministry said the activists were affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), a group Washington has accused of “clandestinely acting on behalf of Hamas”.

Israel is releasing Spanish-Palestinian activist Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila from detention on Saturday, handing them to immigration authorities for deportation. The pair were among dozens intercepted by the Israeli navy on April 30 while aboard a flotilla attempting to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid; both had been held in isolation and conducted hunger strikes during their week-plus detention.