03.05.2026 22:13
The Global Sumud Fleet Türkiye announced that Thiago Avila, one of the organizers detained by Israeli forces, lost consciousness twice due to a blow to the head and, together with Saif Abu Kishk, began a hunger strike in response to rights violations.
A statement was made from the Global Sumud Fleet Türkiye social media account regarding the situation of Thiago Avila and Saif Ebu Kişk, who were detained by Israel.
THEY WERE TORTURED IN CUSTODY AND STARTED A HUNGER STRIKE In the statement, it was said, "Images of Thiago Avila and Saif Ebu Kişk, members of our Global Sumud Fleet Management team kidnapped by Israel, were released from the so-called Israeli courts. Our legal team has informed us that Thiago Avila lost consciousness twice due to a blow to the head. Additionally, both of our friends have now started a hunger strike in protest."
Saif Ebu Kişk and Thiago Avila DETENTION PERIODS HAD BEEN EXTENDED The Israeli court had decided to extend the detention period of the 2 activists brought to the country for interrogation after being detained from the Global Sumud Fleet until May 5.
According to a statement from the human rights and legal organization "Adalah," the Israeli prosecution had requested a 4-day extension of the detention periods for the activists detained in international waters on charges including "assisting the enemy during wartime," "contact with a foreign agent," "membership and service in a terrorist organization," and "transfer of property to a terrorist organization." The Israeli court had then extended the detention period of activists Avila and Ebu Kişk by an additional 2 days.
Adalah lawyers, in their defense during the hearing, emphasized that the detention and trial process was "legally flawed and illegal." The lawyers underscored that Israel does not have the authority to apply its domestic law to foreign nationals in international waters, noting that the charges brought under the pretext of "security" constitute "retaliation" aimed at obstructing humanitarian aid activities.
Thiago Avila GLOBAL SUMUD FLEET The Global Sumud Fleet 2026 Spring Mission, aiming to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver essential humanitarian aid, set sail from Barcelona, Spain into the Mediterranean on April 12. With additional participants joining in Sicily, Italy, the fleet departed again on April 26 with 345 participants from 39 different countries, including Turks.
The Israeli army, in an unlawful intervention in international waters off the coast of Crete on the night of April 29, attacked the boats carrying the activists. In the attack, which took place 600 nautical miles from Gaza and a few miles outside Greek territorial waters, the Israeli army detained 177 activists and subjected them to mistreatment. The Israeli army also damaged other boats, rendering them unseaworthy, except for a group of boats that returned to Greek waters. The Israeli army, which injured 31 activists, released the group, aside from the 2 fleet manager activists, on May 1 on the Greek island of Crete.