President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday (5) called for the release of Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, detained by the Israeli government after intercepting a vessel from the international flotilla Global Sumud, which was heading towards the Gaza Strip.
In a statement on social media, Lula criticized the arrest of the Brazilian citizen and stated that the measure is unjustified. "Maintaining the imprisonment of Brazilian citizen Thiago Ávila, a member of the Global Sumud flotilla, is an unjustifiable action by the Israeli government, and causes great concern and should be condemned by all," declared the president.
The head of the Executive branch also linked the episode to the interception of the vessel in international waters, classifying the action as a serious violation of international norms. According to Lula, Brazil is acting in conjunction with Spain, which also had a citizen detained in the operation. "Our government, together with that of Spain, demands that they receive full security guarantees and be released immediately," he added.
Interception and reporting of violence
Thiago Ávila was participating in the humanitarian mission alongside Spanish activist Saif Abu Keshek when the boat was intercepted by Israeli forces near Greece on April 29. The initiative was part of the Global Sumud flotilla, which aimed to reach the Gaza Strip.
According to the human rights organization Adalah, the Brazilian man reported being held in isolation, blindfolded, after his arrest. He also stated to his lawyers that he suffered assaults during the arrest, including beatings that allegedly caused him to faint.
Legal status
A hearing is scheduled for this Tuesday (5) to analyze the activist's case. According to information released, five charges have been filed against Ávila, although the details have not been fully clarified so far.
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