Israel Arrests Two Leaders of Gaza Flotilla, Identified as Hamas Operatives

Israel is set to put on trial the two leaders of the Gaza flotilla that the Israeli Navy seized last week, according to reports this evening (on Motza'ei Shabbat). The two are Saif Abu Kashak and Tiago Avila. They are the only ones among the 170 activists captured on 21 vessels near Crete who were brought to Israel. The other activists were released at a Greek port, and the boats were abandoned at sea.

Abu Kashak is a senior figure in the PCPA, an organization that the U.S. has designated as a Hamas emissary. Avila, who was arrested in a previous flotilla and even attended the funeral of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon, is a senior activist in the organization. The two detainees were transferred for questioning by law enforcement authorities. They received consular visits from representatives of their countries in Israel.

Security officials attribute the planning of the flotilla to the two. Abu Kashak is suspected of ties with a terrorist organization, while Avila is suspected of illegal activity. According to the report, some of the flotilla activists who were released in Greece are known as Hamas supporters in Europe.

Meanwhile, Israel is preparing for another flotilla that will soon depart from Turkey. The IDF is preparing for it, and according to a report on Channel 12, there is concern that some of the activists will be armed with firearms. The Navy is preparing to stop it as soon as it sets out. Another concern stems from information published in Turkey that a Turkish military warship will escort the flotilla. This could lead to an international incident if the Turks try to prevent the IDF from taking control of the flotilla's vessels.