Detained Global Sumud Flotilla activists Thiago Avila and Saif Abu Keshek are expected to be released from Shikma detention facility on Saturday. They will then be handed over to immigration authorities until their deportation.
Shin Bet informed the Adalah legal center, which is aiding in the defense of the activists, of the expected release, and the Adalah team will monitor developments to ensure that the release and eventual deportation take place.
Adalah claims activists unlawfully held in harsh conditions
Adalah claimed that Avila and Abu Keshek have been unlawfully held by Israel for over a week, since they were taken into Israeli custody in the early hours of Thursday.
Throughout their detention, Adalah claimed the pair were held in isolation and allegedly faced harsh conditions, despite the clearly civilian nature of their mission.
The two activists have been on hunger strike since their detention, with Abu Keshek intensifying his protest and even refusing to drink water on the evening of May 5.
Attorney Hadeel Abu Salih of the Adalah Center argued in a court hearing that the activists were detained from a vessel flying the Italian flag and were therefore subject to Italian jurisdiction. He claimed that the detention constituted a violation of international law, especially in light of the statement of condemnation issued by Italy in response to the arrest of the activists.
The Adalah Center has, for some time, represented the activists and the Global Sumud Flotilla's activities, and will continue to do so.