The European Left Alliance strongly condemns the unlawful detention of Thiago Ávila and Saif Abu Keshek by Israel, abducted in European waters while taking part in the pacifist Global Sumud Flotilla’s humanitarian mission to break the illegal blockade of Gaza.

This is an arbitrary detention. This is the criminalisation of humanitarian aid and solidarity. This is yet another flagrant violation of international law by Israel, committed in the deafening silence of the European Union, despite both activists holding an EU passport.

We demand that the EU and its Member States:

• Act immediately to secure the release of Thiago and Saif, and of every activist still held by Israel.
• Facilitate the immediate and unconditional release of the Palestinian political prisoners held in Israeli detention – thousands of men, women, and children imprisoned without charge or trial, subjected to systematic torture and inhumane conditions. Israel currently holds over 9,000 Palestinian political prisoners, including elected officials, journalists, academics, and human rights defenders.
• Uphold international law without exception, and stop shielding Israel from accountability.
• Fully suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement and sanction Israel for its systematic crimes against the Palestinian people, the genocide in Gaza, the humanitarian blockade, the occupation and ethnic cleansing, and now the abduction and torture of foreign nationals in international waters.

Free Thiago. Free Saif. Free Palestine.