He was in a lonely for two days
The militant Thiago Ávila, one of the 12 crew members of the Flotilha Freedom coalition, intercepted by Israel when he went towards the Gaza Strip. The vessel departed on a humanitarian mission, aiming to offer help to the Palestinians.
Thiago landed at Guarulhos International Airport, in São Paulo, and was received by a group of pro-Palestinian militants, carrying posters with messages of support to the country and flags.
Surrounded by supporters of the cause, who reverberated by the lobby of the Encouraging Words Terminal, the leader explained that he still wore the uniform they gave him by being sent to a lonely cell where he stayed for two days. He classified as “extremely helpful” the diplomatic representation, which assisted him at the time of detention.
As a protest, he made hunger strike. To journalists, he stressed that his cell was in a dungeon that appeared to be very old, but he knew he was only about 80 years old. Still according to him, the onslaught against the flotilha crew was no longer intense because of the presence of MEO Hassan.
Assault
In an interview after the landing, Ávila was asked about any aggressions that Israeli forces may have inflicted on him. With an air of tranquility, he replied that the violations of law that suffered, above all, for projection, are “a fraction” very small compared to the violence to which the Palestinians are subjected.
Ávila noted that Israel tried to make a “advertising maneuver” to sell the impression that activists were being well received, while actually forced to sign documents saying they had entered the region illegally.
He clarified that he did not sign any documents and that the authorities determined his ban on the country for a century.
Ávila believes that the Brazilian government should break relations with Israel and understand that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva could even interpret the scenario set as an opportunity to get even greater with this gesture. For Ávila, it is urgent that Brazil leaves this “odious ideology”.
“All they have are their weapons, their hatred, their army,” he said. Arriving at the airport, he met again with his wife and seven -month -old daughter.
Regarding the media coverage of the conflict, Ávila said she was aware that, often reporters want to tell the truth, but bump into opposing positions of their superiors in the newsrooms. “Structures do not always allow [isso] To the workers, ”he noted.
Avila argued that it is necessary to separate anti -Semitism from anti -joint and remember that there are Jews around the world supporting the Palestinians and opposing the massacre promoted by Israel. The peoples have already lived in harmony, he noted. “British imperialism and Zionism have destroyed this dream of living in peace,” he noted.
Finally, he argued that all unite against what he classifies as “enemy number 1,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The answer that Israel’s opponents give is the current of solidarity, affection, love and persistence, he concluded.
Originally published by Agência Brasil on 06/13/2025
By Lettycia Bond – Reporter of Agência Brasil – São Paulo
Edition: Kleber Sampaio