The group said legal efforts by several judicial bodies to prevent the transfer of civilians in what it called an “illegal operation” from Greek territorial waters had failed.
It described the attack as “an extension of the blockade imposed on Gaza.”
“The same forces that starve the population tortured civilians trying to deliver safety to Gaza’s residents,” the statement said, calling on the international community and European governments to demand the immediate release of Abu Keshek and Avila and to publicly condemn the use of torture and unlawful detention against humanitarian activists.
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‘Abduction of foreign nationals’
It also urged accountability for Israeli violations of international law, including torture, unlawful detention, and attacks on civilians in international waters, and called for an investigation into the role of Greek authorities in allowing the Israeli vessel carrying detainees to depart.
By Friday, Israel had released all activists detained from the flotilla except Abu Keshek and Avila, its Foreign Ministry said, adding they would be questioned.
Adalah said the activists had been “illegally transferred to Israeli territory for interrogation,” describing the move as “the abduction of foreign nationals from international waters off Greek territorial waters.”
Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza since 2007. About 1.5 million Palestinians in the enclave have been displaced after widespread destruction during the war that began on Oct. 8, 2023, which has killed more than 72,000 people and wounded over 172,000, according to Palestinian figures.
The territory is facing an unprecedented humanitarian and health crisis, with extensive damage to infrastructure, including hospitals and health facilities.
