Spain and Brazil accuse Israel of "kidnapping" activists captured on Gaza flotilla in international waters

Israeli authorities said Friday they were taking two high-profile activists who led an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, and who were captured by Israel in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, to Israel for questioning. The governments of Spain and Brazil accused Israel of "kidnapping" its citizens.

The activists, Spanish-Swedish citizen of Palestinian origin Saif Abukeshek and Brazilian citizen Thiago Ávila, were among dozens of activists intercepted by the Israeli navy off the coast of Crete. They are members of the Global Sumud Flotilla's steering committee, whose mission was to break Israel's naval blockade and bring some humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory.

In all, 22 boats and 175 activists were intercepted by the Israeli navy. Activists said Israeli forces stormed their vessels, smashed engines and detained some of those onboard. The incident occurred hundreds of miles from Gaza and Israel overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.

Israeli officials said they needed to take early action against the flotilla before it reached the country's waters because of the high number of boats involved.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Friday on X it was taking the two activists to Israel for questioning, and that Abukeshek was "suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organization" and Ávila was "suspected of illegal activity," without providing evidence.

In a joint statement, the governments of Brazil and Spain condemned "the kidnapping of two of their citizens in international waters by the Government of Israel." Unlike other flotilla participants who were disembarked in Crete, the Spanish and Brazilian activists remained detained aboard an Israeli navy ship in Greek territorial waters.