An Israeli court has extended the detention of two Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla activists who were abducted by Israeli authorities last week, an Israeli rights group representing them says.

The Ashkelon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday granted the state’s request to extend the detention of Saif Abu Keshek from Spain and Brazilian Thiago Avila until Sunday May 10, Miriam Azem, the international advocacy coordinator at Adalah confirmed to Al Jazeera.

The pair were among dozens of activists who had set sail for Gaza as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece on April 30. Organisers say that from 180 activists, the majority of whom were taken to Crete, Abu Keshek and Avila were taken to Israel for questioning, where they remain in detention.

“The court’s decision to extend the detention of humanitarian activists abducted in international waters amounts to judicial validation of the state’s lawlessness,” Adalah said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that it will appeal the decision.

The extension of the activists’ detainment was based on “secret evidence” that Abu Keshek, Avila and their lawyers were not permitted to review, Adalah said.

“Crucially, the court granted the full six-day extension requested by the state without imposing any limitations or judicial constraints on the interrogation period,” the group’s statement read.

No charges have been filed against the two men, but Abu Keshek and Avila face several accusations, including affiliation with a “terrorist organisation and contact with foreign agents”, Adalah has previously told Al Jazeera.

Adalah lawyers Hadeel Abu Salih and Lubna Tuma, representing the two activists, have argued that the allegations against them are “baseless” and have no “legal grounds”. 

“Because the activists were abducted over 1,000 kilometers away from Gaza and are not Israeli citizens, Israeli domestic law does not apply to them,” said the rights group.

The organisation also said both activists remain in “total isolation, subjected to 24/7 high-intensity lighting in their cells and kept blindfolded whenever they are moved, including during medical examinations”.

The organisation said the activists are continuing their hunger strike, consuming only water since their abduction on April 30.

The flotilla’s organisers also demanded the release of Abu Keshek and Avila on Tuesday, urging the international community to take action.

“The zionist regime has, once again, extended the illegal detention of our friends; Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Avila,” the group said on X.

“Our organizers have been illegally kidnapped in international waters, subjected to beatings and torture in Greek territorial waters, and forcefully brought against their will to occupied Palestine, where they have been subjected to interrogations, death threats, sleep deprivation and medical neglect.”

On Saturday, Adalah lawyers had visited the activists at Shikma Prison in Ashkelon, where they gave testimony of “severe physical abuse amounting to torture”.

The Global Sumud Flotilla’s first voyage to Gaza in August and September drew worldwide attention before Israeli forces intercepted the boats off the coasts of Egypt and Gaza in early October.

Crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were arrested and expelled by Israeli forces. (Al Jazeera)

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Germany will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza “until further notice,” Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Friday, in a strikingly quick response by one of Israel’s strongest international backers to a decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet to take over Gaza City.

The move by Germany, which has previously stopped short of tougher lines against Israel’s government taken by some of its European Union allies, appeared likely to further isolate Israel in the wake of the controversial military takeover plan that has been decried by the United Nations and supporters of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

In a statement, Merz emphasized that Israel “has the right to defend itself against Hamas’ terror” and said that the release of Israeli hostages and purposeful negotiations toward a cease-fire in the 22-month conflict “are our top priority.”

He said Hamas must not have a role in the future of Gaza.

“The even harsher military action by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, approved by the Israeli Cabinet last night, makes it increasingly difficult for the German government to see how these goals will be achieved,” he added.

“Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice.” (AP)

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The Government says it has not granted approval for the establishment of ‘Synagogues’ by Israeli tourists in various parts of Sri Lanka. 

Addressing the Parliament today, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya clarified that the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs or its departments have not granted such permission. 

“These centres are not permitted. We will intervene in this matter very soon. However, we were prompted to provide them with security, following intelligence on the Arugam Bay incident. That is our country’s responsibility towards tourists, and not permission to set up illegal centres,” the Prime Minister explained. 

Reiterating that the government has not given approval for such establishments, she revealed that discussions are underway, with the intervention of the Foreign Ministry, to address the matter and to halt its operations. 

The Prime Minister further noted that a total of 25,514 Israelis visited Sri Lanka in 2024.

PM Amarasuriya also clarified that there are no laws in Sri Lanka that allow foreigners to arrive on tourist visas and engage in business activities.

“No laws in Sri Lanka allow people to arrive on tourist visas and engage in business activities. We have received information in this regard. This has become a common occurrence the world over. We have identified this as an issue,” she said.

The Prime Minister revealed that discussions are underway to address this matter and the government was looking at measures to halt such activities. 

“The government has not issued any visa for Israelis to engage in business activities in Sri Lanka, especially under tourist visas. They are engaging in such activities by violating our laws,” she added.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya made the remarks in response to questions raised by Opposition MP Mujibur Rahman over the increasing activities of Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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A 23-year-old foreigner is among three persons reported dead in separate accidents in Sri Lanka in the last 24 hours ending at 06.00 am today. 

A 23-year-old Israeli man died after the motorcycle he was travelling in crashed into a tracker from behind on the Pottuvil- Akkaraipattu Road last evening.

The foreign national who was riding the motorcycle had sustained serious injuries, while an Israeli female pillion rider had sustained minor injuries.

The Israeli man had succumbed to injuries after being admitted to the Pottuvil Hospital.

Meanwhile, two men aged 29 and 40 years old from Matale had died after the motorcycle they were travelling on had crashed onto the centre aisle on the A6 Road last morning.

The duo along with another person had been riding from Kurunegala to Dambulla when the rider had lost control and crashed onto the centre pavement.

The rider and two pillion riders had sustained serious injuries in the accident. The rider and one pillion rider had succumbed to injuries, while the other pillion rider is receiving treatment.

Furthermore, a 24-year-old resident of Anuradhapura has died after a tipper truck had crashed onto his motorcycle on the Kurunegala- Puttalam Road last afternoon.

The Police said the driver of the tipper truck had lost control of the vehicle and had crashed into a motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction. 

The rider and pillion rider of the motorcycle had been admitted to the Kurunegala Hospital with serious injuries after which the rider had died. 

The driver of the tipper truck has been arrested in connection to the accident. (Newswire)

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