El Ciudadano
Original article: Flotilla Global Sumud denuncia tortura y secuestro de civiles por parte de Israel en aguas internacionales y exige una intervención urgente
Global Sumud Flotilla Exposes Torture and Abduction of Civilians by Israel in International Waters, Urging Immediate Intervention
The Global Sumud Flotilla has issued an urgent international alert condemning what it describes as a state-sponsored operation of abduction and torture currently unfolding in international waters, based on firsthand accounts from recently freed participants.
According to a statement dated May 1, 2026, in Greece, witnesses confirmed that Saif Abukeshek, one of the two civilians held by Israeli forces, was subjected to torture while detained aboard an Israeli military vessel still in Greek waters. The organization warns that this constitutes a serious escalation and an additional war crime.
This incident follows the interception of 22 vessels from the flotilla in international waters, less than 80 nautical miles west of the Greek island of Crete. The report states that 175 civilians were abducted from 21 boats and transported to the Israeli ship NAHSHON, where they reportedly endured physical and verbal abuse.
Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes, indicating that Abukeshek’s screams echoed throughout the vessel as he endured systematic torture after being separated from the others.
The flotilla identified the two detained individuals as Saif Abukeshek, who holds Spanish and Swedish nationality with Palestinian roots, and Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian citizen. Both were not allowed to disembark when the ship arrived at the port of Ierapetra in southern Crete, despite being in Greek territorial waters. The remaining participants were released, although 36 required hospitalization for injuries sustained during the interception.
Despite urgent legal actions in various jurisdictions to prevent the illegal transfer, Greek authorities did not intervene. The NAHSHON vessel subsequently left Greek waters and is heading towards occupied Palestine, expected to arrive on May 2.
The organization criticizes a “profound failure” of European authorities for not upholding international law or preventing the transfer of civilians into military custody, noting that this incident is not isolated but part of the expansion of the Gaza blockade into the Mediterranean.
In this context, the Global Sumud Flotilla has called on European governments and countries like Brazil, Spain, Sweden, and Italy to demand the immediate release of the detainees, publicly condemn torture, intervene to prevent their transfer, and hold Israel accountable for violations of international law, including torture, illegal detention, and attacks on civilians in international waters.
Furthermore, they urged an investigation into the role of Greek authorities in allowing the vessel to depart with the detainees, warning that time is critical and inaction could have far-reaching legal and moral consequences.
Finally, the organization cautioned that the lack of action not only jeopardizes the lives of the detained civilians but also undermines the credibility of international law in the face of atrocities in Gaza.
View the full public statement in PDF
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