Tel aviv: An Israeli court extended on Saturday the detention of Thiago de Avila and Saif Abukeshek, two volunteers aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, for two days.

According to Anadolu Agency, Israeli prosecutors sought a four-day detention extension for the Global Sumud Flotilla activists over security-related allegations, as stated by Adalah, an Israeli advocacy group for Palestinians inside Israel. However, the activists' lawyers contended that "the entire legal process is fundamentally flawed and illegal," as per the group's statement.

No charges have been filed against either activist, and they continue to be under interrogation at the pre-indictment stage, Adalah noted. The group further mentioned that "both Mr. de Avila and Mr. Abukeshek will be transferred back to the Shikma detention facility in Israel (Ashkelon), where they remain in isolation."

The activists are currently on a hunger strike to protest their detention and alleged ill-treatment. The Global Sumud Flotilla was intercepted on Thursday near the Greek island, approximately 600 nautical miles from its intended destination, the Gaza Strip, which has been under a blockade.

The flotilla's initial ships, carrying humanitarian aid, departed from Barcelona on April 12, while the main fleet set sail from the Italian island of Sicily on April 26, with the goal of breaking Israel's long-standing blockade of Gaza. Israel has imposed a severe blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, leaving its 2.4 million residents in dire conditions.

The Israeli army launched a significant offensive on Gaza in October 2023, resulting in more than 72,000 fatalities, over 172,000 injuries, and substantial destruction across the besieged region.