President calls Thiago Ávila’s arrest “unjustifiable” and asks him to be released “immediately”
The president (PT) demanded this Tuesday (May 5, 2026) the immediate release of Thiago Ávila, arrested by Israel after boarding by the Global Sumud flotilla. The boat the activist was on was destined for Gaza, but was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, off the coast of Greece, on Wednesday (29 April).
Lula wrote what prison is “unjustifiable” and which, together with Spain – which had Palestinian-Spanish Saif Abu Keshek detained – is working for their immediate release.
An Israeli court this Tuesday (May 5) extended Thiago Ávila’s detention until Sunday (May 10). Miriam Azem, from the human rights organization Adalah, told the news agency that the Israeli authorities had requested a 4-day extension. You in Shikma prison, in Ashkelon, and are represented by NGO lawyers.
The flotilla, made up of more than 50 vessels, departed from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking the Israeli blockade of Gaza and bringing supplies to Palestinian territory. The 2 activists were among more than 170 detained by the Israeli Navy on Wednesday (29 April). The rest were released on Friday (May 1), in Greece and Turkey.
On Saturday (May 2), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of they would have links with the PCPA (Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad). The United States Treasury Department said the group “acts clandestinely in the name of Hamas”.
The Global Sumud flotilla released a statement on Saturday (May 2) stating that Ávila was tortured by Israeli forces. The activist told the lawyers that he was “subjected to extreme brutality” when the vessels were seized. He added that it was “dragged face down across the floor and beaten so violently that he fainted twice”.
Since arriving in Israel, the Brazilian said he has been “kept in isolation and blindfolded“. Read the and notes (PDF – 216 KB).
Itamaraty released a with the government of Spain on Friday (1st May), in which it condemned what it classified as “the kidnapping of two of its citizens in international waters by the government of Israel” and demanded the immediate return of Ávila and Abu Keshek with security guarantees.
“This blatantly illegal action by the Israeli authorities, outside their jurisdiction, is an affront to international law, actionable in international courts and constitutes a crime in our respective jurisdictions”he states in a note.
