An Israeli court extended the detention of two Gaza flotilla activists brought to Israel for questioning after the Navy intercepted the flotilla near Greece. Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national, and Thiago Ávila of Brazil will remain held until Tuesday after Israeli authorities sought more time to investigate suspicions including aiding the enemy during wartime and providing services to a terrorist organization.  

Most of the other activists were taken to Crete and released, but Israel singled out Abu Keshek and Ávila over alleged links to the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, or PCPA. Israel’s Foreign Ministry says Abu Keshek is a senior PCPA figure and that Ávila is linked to the group; both deny the allegations.  

That matters because the U.S. Treasury designated the PCPA earlier this year, calling it a Hamas front that “clandestinely” acts on behalf of the terror group and has backed flotillas trying to break Israel’s security cordon around Gaza.  

Spain and Brazil are protesting the detention as illegal, while the activists’ lawyers argue Israel lacks jurisdiction because the interception took place in international waters. Israel says the operation was lawful and part of enforcing the naval blockade, which Jerusalem says is meant to stop Hamas from exploiting sea routes under the cover of “aid.”