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Most of the pro-Palestinian activists detained after Israeli forces intercepted a flotilla bound for Gaza in international waters have now been released, with all but two disembarking on the Greek island of Crete.

 

Around 175 people had been detained on Thursday after Israeli naval forces seized 22 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), a coordinated international effort aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenging Israel’s long-standing naval blockade.

 

Greek authorities confirmed that those released – including many Spanish, French, German and British nationals – have been allowed to remain temporarily in Crete, where the country’s foreign ministry said it had offered “diplomatic assistance” to ensure their safe return home.

 

However, two men remain in Israeli custody and are being transferred to Israel “for questioning”, according to the Israeli government. They have been identified as Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish citizen of Palestinian origin (pictured, left), and Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian national.

 

Israel’s foreign ministry said Abu Keshek is “suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation”, while Ávila is “suspected of illegal activity”, without providing further details. The continued detention of the pair has prompted concern among organisers and supporters of the flotilla, who have called for their immediate release.

 

In a statement, the GSF said, “We demand that all governments do all they can to pressure the Israeli regime to release all the illegal abductees,” while confirming that all other participants from the intercepted vessels had now been freed.

 

The flotilla’s interception has sparked a renewed exchange of accusations between organisers and Israeli officials. The GSF has described the operation as “piracy”, arguing that the vessels were seized unlawfully more than 600 miles from Gaza, while Israel has maintained that its actions were necessary to enforce what it describes as a lawful naval blockade.

 

Israeli authorities said the decision to act was taken early due to the scale of the flotilla and what they described as a risk of escalation. Israel’s foreign ministry stated that the operation was carried out “peacefully and without any casualties”, although reports from one of those freed suggest that several of the captives were beaten during the period of their detention.

 

Although Israeli forces did discover medications and contraceptives during their inspection of the vessels, they are still dismissing the flotilla as a “PR stunt” and a “provocation” rather than a genuine humanitarian effort, alleging GSF links to Hamas and arguing that the initiative was intended to divert attention from broader political developments related to Gaza.

 

This position has been supported by the United States, with a State Department spokesperson describing the flotilla as a “meaningless political stunt”.

 

President of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has taken a different stance, saying his government was doing “everything necessary to protect and assist the detained Spaniards” and accusing Israel of “violating international law” in its handling of the situation.

 

 

The two activists still in custody are both known to have participated in previous initiatives related to Gaza. Abu Keshek was among those detained last year by Egyptian authorities during an attempt to reach the Rafah border crossing, while Ávila had previously been held during another flotilla mission and later reported being subjected to ill-treatment during a period of isolation.

 

Their continued detention comes amid wider tensions over humanitarian access to Gaza. The GSF has said its objective is not only to deliver aid but also to challenge the blockade and push for the establishment of a permanent humanitarian corridor.

 

Israel, however, insists that aid is already entering the territory. Cogat, the Israeli defence body responsible for overseeing crossings into Gaza, said there was “no limit on the amount of aid that can enter” and that it was facilitating deliveries.

 

International organisations have questioned this narrative. Just earlier this week, UN Assistant Secretary General Khaled Khiari told the Security Council that Gaza’s population of 2.1 million people continues to face “ongoing and deadly Israeli strikes and dire humanitarian conditions”, despite some improvements in aid access.

 

According to the UN, food security remains a serious concern, while essential services such as water, sanitation and healthcare are once again close to collapse. Assessments by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification last year confirmed that famine conditions had been reached in Gaza City.

 

The latest flotilla interception also echoes a similar incident in October 2025, when Israeli forces stopped a previous attempt by the same movement, detaining and later deporting hundreds of activists.

 

With most participants now released but two still in custody, the focus has shifted to diplomatic efforts and growing calls for clarity over the legal basis for the interception, as well as the fate of those who remain detained.

 

Images: humantiproject