Saif Abukeshek announced his intention to sue Israel because “it can’t do whatever it wants”

Eduardo González The Spanish-Palestinian activist Saif Abukeshek, who arrived in Barcelona this Sunday after several days detained in Israel, stated this Monday that he will sue the government of Benjamin Netanyahu for torture and illegal detention during the raid on the Global Sumud Flotilla because it is necessary to “use all possible means” to prevent “Israel from doing whatever it wants.” “If it weren’t for all the work that has been done here at the level of social movements and at the political level, I wouldn’t have gotten out,” declared Saif Abukeshek on RTVE’s La 2 Cat, after spending several days imprisoned without charge in Israel following the attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla west of the island of Crete, in international waters, and more than 600 nautical miles from the Israeli coast. “We knew we were dealing with a genocidal government, one that doesn’t respect international law, that commits crimes, but we never, honestly, imagined they would be capable of traveling 700 miles, kidnapping 180 people and then disembarking the rest, after torturing and raping them in Greece, and kidnapping two people in Israel,” he asserted. Abukeshek acknowledged that, due to his Palestinian origin, he was aware that Israel would act differently toward him and the other imprisoned activist, Brazilian Thiago Ávila, who was also released this weekend. “If it weren't for all the work that has been done here at the level of social movements and at the political level, I wouldn't have been released,” because “Israel wouldn't have cared” that he had “another passport” besides his Palestinian one, he asserted. In this regard, the activist highlighted “the difference between how the Spanish government acted and how the Swedish government acted (he also holds Swedish nationality through his wife).” “The Swedish government was saying: we are going to try to ensure a fair trial, without realizing that, primarily, the detention itself is already illegal,” he lamented. “If you are detained illegally, they have to release you first, and then we'll see,” he declared. According to Abukeshek, both he and Ávila were interrogated “with false accusations,” but ultimately they weren't even taken to trial (scheduled for this Sunday) “because of the sheer volume of falsehoods.” “They closed the investigation, found no evidence, and deported us,” he asserted. Furthermore, as he announced on Sunday upon his arrival in Barcelona, Saif Abukeshek reiterated his intention to fly to Turkey to rejoin the Flotilla. “I have to be on the ground, I have to help with all the logistical organization, I have to give all the support I can to the people who are continuing with the Flotilla,” because “I can't stay at home knowing that I'm physically well, that I can travel, considering that there are people doing this and considering that the reality in Palestine hasn't changed,” he stated. “I'm free, but there are more than 10,000 Palestinian prisoners,” he reminded everyone. “I heard the screams of torture from the people being interrogated, who are Palestinians with no other nationality,” he added. Furthermore, Abukeshek expressed his support for the lawsuit that former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau and councilor Jordi Coronas (ERC), both members of the Flotilla, plan to file against Israel for torture and illegal detention, and even announced his intention to file his own lawsuit. “I fully support them in the legal process they have initiated,” he affirmed. “We all have to denounce this, because we have to defend international law,” he warned. “To stop denouncing this is to accept that Israel can do whatever it wants and that there is no other world where we can protect and defend ourselves,” he insisted. “We have to use all possible avenues” because “next time they will intercept us here, in Ibiza, or in Mallorca,” he continued. “They think they can do whatever they want, and we cannot allow this to happen,” he added.

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