Israel says two Gaza flotilla activists brought in for questioning

The flotilla of more than 50 vessels had set sail from ports in France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking an Israeli blockade of Gaza and bringing supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory. They were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece early on Thursday.Israel said it had removed around 175 activists from the flotilla, but organisers accused Israeli personnel of "kidnapping" 211 people.Two of them, Saif Abu Keshek from Spain and Thiago Avila, a Brazilian, were taken to Israel "for questioning by law enforcement authorities", the foreign ministry said on X.Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares denounced Israel's detention of Abu Keshek as "illegal", warning it came at a moment of already deteriorating ties between the two countries."We are facing an illegal detention in international waters, outside any jurisdiction of the Israeli authorities so Saif Abu Keshek must be released immediately so that he can return to Spain," Albares told Rac1 radio."This is an episode that further strains our relationship...(with Israel) because of how unacceptable this situation is, because a state does not conduct itself in this manner."Worsening tiesTies between Israel and Spain have nosedived since the Gaza war sparked by the October 2023 Hamas