Rights group accuses Israel of torturing detained flotilla activists

<article data-history-node-id="439523" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/rights-group-accuses-israeli-forces-torturing-flotilla-detainees" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/rights-group-accuses-israeli-forces-torturing-flotilla-detainees" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Rights group accuses Israel of torturing detained flotilla activists</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>A lawyer for Palestinian human rights organisation Adalah&nbsp;accused Israeli forces of abusing two activists detained after the interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla.</p> <p>Speaking to Al Jazeera, Lubna Tuma said, “Once separated and detained, they were subjected to a series of violent acts,” adding that they were beaten, blindfolded and forced to lie face down.</p> <p>Tuma said the activists, Thiago Avila and Seif Abu Keshek, reported severe mistreatment.</p> <p>“During our meeting, they testified to the extensive violence they endured,” she said. “We are speaking about a level of violence that, under international law, is classified as torture.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <figure role="group" class="media-block"> <div class="group-inner"> <div alt="Israeli security personnel escort Brazilian activist Thiago Avila to court in Ashkelon, 3 May 2026. (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP)" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d7ad0040-37cf-4f25-8cfd-021028147c40" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/Security%20personnel%20escort%20Brazilian%20activist%20Thiago%20Avila%20to%20a%20court%20in%20Ashkelon%20o.jpg" width="1341" height="754" alt="Israeli security personnel escort Brazilian activist Thiago Avila to court in Ashkelon, 3 May 2026. (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP)" typeof="foaf:Image" fetchpriority="high"> </div> <figcaption>Israeli security personnel escort Brazilian activist Thiago Avila to court in Ashkelon, 3 May 2026. (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP)</figcaption> </div> </figure> <p><span style="background:rgba(220,220,220,0.5);background-image:url(https://www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle.png);display:none;"><img height="15" role="presentation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" loading="lazy"></span></p> <p><span style="background:rgba(220,220,220,0.5);background-image:url(https://www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle.png);display:none;"><img alt height="15" role="presentation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" loading="lazy"></span></p> <p><span style="background: url(&quot;https://www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle.png&quot;) rgba(220, 220, 220, 0.5); top: -15px; left: 0px;"><img alt height="15" role="presentation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" loading="lazy"></span></p> </div> </div> </article>