The flotilla's vessels set sail from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking Israel's blockade of Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
The United Nations Wednesday called on Israel on Wednesday to immediately release two activists taken from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and demanded an investigation into "disturbing accounts" they had been severely mistreated.
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Spanish national Saif Abukeshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila, who are being held in a prison in Ashkelon, were among dozens of activists on a Gaza-bound flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off the coast of Greece last Thursday.
"Israel must immediately and unconditionally release Global Sumud Flotilla members Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Avila, who were detained in international waters and brought to Israel where they continue to be held without charge," UN rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement.
"It is not a crime to show solidarity and attempt to bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population in Gaza, who are in dire need of it.”
The flotilla's vessels set sail from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking Israel's blockade of Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
Representatives for Avila and Abukeshek have accused Israeli authorities of abusing the two men, who have been on hunger strike for the past six days.
Kheetan decried the "disturbing accounts of severe mistreatment", calling for an investigation and insisting "those responsible must be brought to justice."
"We call for an end to Israel's use of arbitrary detention and of broadly and vaguely defined terrorism legislation, inconsistent with international human rights law," he said.
"Israel must also end its blockade on Gaza, and allow and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance to the besieged Palestinian strip, in sufficient amounts," the spokesman said.
Israel's foreign minister said on Thursday that the activists intercepted from the flotilla would be taken to Greece.
"In coordination with the Greek government, the civilians who were transferred from the flotilla vessels to the Israeli vessel will be brought ashore in Greece in the coming hours," Gideon Sa’ar wrote in a post on X, thanking the Greek government "for its willingness to receive the flotilla participants."
"Israel will not allow the breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza," he wrote.
In the past, Israel has usually dismissed such aid flotillas as a publicity stunt by attention seekers.
Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon referred to the fleet of ships as "provocative."