Israel deports Gaza flotilla activists Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila

Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Ávila were detained by Israel after sailing in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

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Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila were taken to Israel after the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), made up of 22 boats and about 175 activists, was intercepted last week in international waters near Crete, hundreds of nautical miles from Gaza. All the other activists were taken to Crete and freed.

The rights group representing the two activists, Adalah, said their detention was unlawful and that Israel's accusations against them were baseless.

Israel had said it suspected Abu Keshek of links with a terrorist group and Ávila of illegal activity - allegations they denied.

In a statement posted on X early on Sunday, Israel's foreign ministry said authorities had completed their investigation and confirmed the two activists had been deported.