“I was kidnapped”: Brazilian activist accuses Israel of torture after his return from detention

Brazilian activist Thiago Avila returned to Brazil on Monday after ten days of detention in Israel, following the interception of a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza. Upon his arrival at São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, the activist denounced acts of torture and ill-treatment he claims to have suffered during his captivity.

Thiago Avila was part of the second Global Sumud flotilla, which departed from Spain on April 12 with the objective of breaking the Israeli blockade of Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid. The ship was intercepted by Israeli forces before reaching its destination. More than a hundred pro-Palestinian activists on board were taken to Crete, while Avila and the Spaniard Abu Keshek were transferred to Israel.

Israeli authorities arrested the two men on several alleged charges, including aiding the enemy and having contact with a terrorist organization. Thiago Avila and Abu Keshek denied all the charges against them. After several days in detention, they were released on Saturday and then handed over to immigration services for deportation.

Speaking to Brazilian journalists, Avila strongly criticized the Israeli authorities and denounced what he considers an illegal detention. "My return was simply redress for a serious violation. I was abducted by Israel, I was not imprisoned," he declared upon his arrival.

The activist also claimed to have witnessed violence inflicted on Palestinian prisoners during his detention. According to him, several detainees suffered ill-treatment at the hands of Israeli authorities. However, no independent evidence has yet been made public to substantiate these accusations.

The case quickly took on a diplomatic dimension. Brazil and Spain both deemed the activists' arrest illegal. Both countries are now closely monitoring developments in this sensitive case, as international tensions surrounding the war in Gaza and the Israeli blockade continue to escalate.