Activist Released After Detention While Delivering Aid to Gaza

Gaza Aid Activist Released After Israeli Detention: 'We Must Continue Mobilizing Solidarity' June 13, 2025 Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian activist participating in the Freedom Flotilla, was detained by Israeli forces in international waters on June 9th, 2025. His ship was intercepted while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. Ávila spent four days in Israeli custody, two days in a common prison and two in solitary confinement. Upon his release and arrival in Madrid, Ávila gave an interview, stating, "Now we are ending a four-day imprisonment process, two days in a common prison and two in total isolation. A very precarious prison." He was then put on a flight to São Paulo, Brazil. Despite his ordeal, Ávila remains resolute in his commitment to the Palestinian cause. He stated, "We must continue mobilizing solidarity with the Palestinian people because there were 10 days of violations, violations of international law, violations of human rights." The incident has sparked renewed calls for an end to the blockade of Gaza and increased international attention on the humanitarian crisis in the region. Ávila's story highlights the risks faced by activists working to provide aid to those in need.