Spain demands 'immediate release' of activist held by Israel

The Spanish government has renewed its call for the "immediate" release of Catalan-Palestinian activist Saif Abukeshek after an Israeli court extended his detention by a further six days, along with Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila.

Both men were detained after being intercepted in international waters near the Greek coast while travelling with the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international humanitarian mission that set off from Barcelona in mid-April.

Spain's consul in Tel Aviv visited Abukeshek on Tuesday and reiterated that his arrest is "illegal," adding that they will continue to offer "all protection" to the activist.

At the same time, Abukeshek's partner met Spain's foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, in Madrid.

"The Spanish government demands his immediate release and that all his rights be respected," foreign ministry sources said.

Barcelona protest

Around 200 protesters blocked Barcelona's Passeig de Gràcia on Tuesday evening, calling for the release of the two activists.

Abukeshek and Ávila had been expected to be released on Tuesday, but an Israeli court extended their detention under accusations of collaboration with Hamas.

The demonstration began at around 7:30 pm, first as a gathering in the pedestrian section of Passeig de Gràcia before expanding to block the road.

Participants read statements and chanted slogans demanding the activists' release while denouncing Israel and what they described as European complicity.

Pablo Castilla, the Global Sumud Flotilla's spokesperson in Catalonia, called for the release of the "hostages taken by Israel" and criticised what he described as international inaction.

"Every minute of silence" from the European Union and the wider international community is "another minute of complicity with this kidnapping," he said.

Speaking to reporters, Castilla alleged that Abukeshek and Ávila "are being subjected to physical and psychological torture," that they are being held "in total isolation," exposed to "constant light 24 hours a day to prevent them from sleeping," and moved "with their eyes covered" whenever they are taken anywhere, including to the infirmary.

He described these as "human rights violations" that are "systematically carried out every day against thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons."

Castilla also said no "formal charge" had been brought against the two activists and argued that their continued detention was "to buy time to build a case." 

He urged the European Union to "break its silence" and sever relations with Israel, and called on the Spanish government to move from words "to action." 

Flotilla's next steps

Asked about the convoy’s future, Castilla said an international assembly of the Global Sumud Flotilla is scheduled to take place in Turkey on May 9 and 10 to decide its next steps.