MADRID, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Tuesday there was "no evidence" to justify what he called the "illegal" arrest of activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Speaking on Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, Albares said Palestinian-Spanish Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian national Thiago Avila were detained after their flotilla, which had departed from Spain, was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near Crete, around 600 km from the Israeli coast.

He said Israel had not presented evidence linking Keshek or Avila with the alleged charges of "collaborating with the enemy in times of war, contacting a foreign agent, belonging to a terrorist organization and providing it with services, and transferring assets to a terrorist organization."

Albares said he would avoid comments that could affect Keshek's situation, adding that neither country would "abandon" its citizens.

"This is a completely illegal detention; no Israeli agent has jurisdiction in international waters," insisted Albares.

Spain is working with Brazil on a joint response to the arrests, he added. ■