Zionists Force Terrorism Charges on Leaders of the Sumud Flotilla Fleet
An Israeli low-level court in Ashkelon has extended the detention of two leaders of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) humanitarian sailing mission, Thiago Avila and Seif Abukeshek, for six days until Sunday (10 May 2026). The prosecutor from the occupying authorities in Palestinian territory has accused the two humanitarian activists of various charges related to terrorism.
The Adalah Advocacy Team stated that Israeli prosecutors, in the previous hearing, presented to the court that Thiago and Seif were assisting people in Gaza, Palestine, whom the Zionists consider enemies. “The Israeli public prosecutor presented a list of alleged violations (against Thiago and Seif), including aiding the enemy during wartime, associating with foreign agents, being a member and providing services to a terrorist organisation, and transferring property to a terrorist organisation,” as stated in a press release from Adalah received by Republika in Marmaris, Turkey, on Tuesday (5 May 2026).
Adalah lawyers Hadeel Abu Salih and Lubna Tuma emphasised that there was no explanation of what kind of terrorist organisation the Zionist prosecutors were accusing Thiago and Seif of being involved with. Adalah also strongly refuted the Zionist accusations against Thiago and Seif related to terrorism. Adalah affirmed that the activities of Thiago and Seif, which have now led to their detention by the Zionists, were solely related to humanitarian efforts alongside thousands of other volunteers to assist starving and suffering civilians in Gaza.
These humanitarian activities were undertaken by Thiago and Seif together with thousands of activists from around the world through a humanitarian sailing mission via international waters towards Gaza. “There is no connection between providing humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza through the humanitarian fleet and any terrorist organisation,” Adalah stressed.
In fact, according to Adalah, it is the Zionist soldiers who have violated international law by hijacking ships and abducting participants in the sailing mission. This illegal action by the occupying soldiers resulted in the arrest of Thiago and Seif in international waters while they were leading 56 humanitarian ships in international waters near Greece, approximately 1,000 kilometres from the Gaza coast, on Wednesday (29 April 2026).
Adalah fights back
Despite the arguments from the advocacy team, Zionist Low Court Judge Yaniv Ben Haroush still approved the occupying authorities’ request to extend the detention of Thiago and Seif. The Zionist judge also approved the prosecutor’s request from the occupying authorities not to disclose initial evidence related to the accusations of Thiago and Seif’s involvement in terrorism. The judge also rejected the Adalah legal team’s request for the Zionist prosecutors to present evidence of Thiago and Seif’s alleged involvement in terrorist activities, citing secrecy.
Therefore, the Adalah legal team is filing an appeal against the initial decision from the low-level judge. “The low court’s decision to extend the detention of the humanitarian activists (Thiago and Seif), who were abducted in international waters, is equivalent to judicial endorsement of violations of state law. The Adalah team will immediately file an appeal to the District Court to challenge this decision and demand the immediate and unconditional release of Thiago and Seif,” Adalah asserted.
At Marmaris Port in Turkey, Republika’s observations regarding preparations for the continuation of the Global Sumud Flotilla sailing mission show around 12 ships still preparing to proceed with the humanitarian mission to break the Gaza blockade. On Tuesday (5 May 2026), hundreds of participants from many countries who will continue the sailing began loading logistics and humanitarian aid to be carried by the entire fleet to Gaza. The humanitarian aid consists of heavy and light food items, clean water, medicines, baby formula, and supplies for children and women.
These humanitarian ships preparing to sail are still awaiting the final decision from the Global Sumud Flotilla Steering Committee on whether to proceed to Gaza or not. It is not yet known exactly when that decision will be announced. However, around 32 other Global Sumud Flotilla ships have been waiting in Greek waters for six days to continue the sailing together with the fleet preparing in Turkey. The 32 ships waiting in Greek waters are the remnants from the 56 ships attacked by the Israeli Zionist navy in international waters near Greece on Wednesday (29 April 2026).
Republika also obtained information regarding patrols by the Israeli Zionist navy deploying its warships in international waters between Turkey and Greece. This illegal patrol is reportedly intended to prevent the unification of the Global Sumud Flotilla fleet awaiting departure from Turkey with the humanitarian ships that have been in Greek waters for a week.