An Israeli court has approved a two-day extension to the detention of two activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla who were brought to Israel for questioning, a rights group representing them said.
“The court extended their detention by two days,” said Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at the rights group Adalah on Sunday.
Israeli authorities had asked to extend their detention by four days, Azem said.
The Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla set sail in April from the Italian island of Sicily, with 58 vessels aiming to break Israel’s years-long blockade of Gaza.
Israeli forces halted the boats overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, detaining activists and seizing vessels in international waters.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said 175 activists were detained after more than 20 vessels were seized in international waters, while flotilla organisers said 211 activists had been “kidnapped”.
Organisers also said that the equipment on board had been smashed during the interception, leaving them facing a ‘calculated death trap at sea’.
Earlier on Thursday, the flotilla reported being attacked near the Greek island of Crete, roughly 600 nautical miles from Gaza.
Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila appeared before a court in Ashkelon on Sunday.
