Brazilian flotilla activist returns home alleging torture by Israel

Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila returned to São Paulo on Monday after being deported from Israel, where he alleged he was tortured and witnessed abuses of Palestinian prisoners during 10 days in custody following his arrest aboard a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla.reuters+1

"My return was simply a correction of a serious violation. I was kidnapped by Israel, I wasn't imprisoned," Ávila told reporters after his arrival at São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport.timesofindia.indiatimes

Detention and Deportation

Ávila and Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek were part of the second Global Sumud Flotilla, which launched from Spain on April 12 in an attempt to break Israel's blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid. Israeli naval forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters near Greece on April 30, detaining the two men and transporting them to Israel while more than 100 other pro-Palestinian activists were taken to the Greek island of Crete.channelnewsasia+2

The pair were held at Ashkelon's Shikma detention facility under suspicion of aiding the enemy and contact with a terrorist group — allegations both denied. An Israeli court extended their detention multiple times before they were released on Saturday and handed to immigration authorities for deportation.timesofindia.indiatimes+2

Ávila claimed that he and Abu Keshek suffered "all kinds of violations" during their detention, adding that Palestinian prisoners in nearby cells experienced worse treatment. Their legal team, including human rights group Adalah and the International Federation for Human Rights, said the treatment amounted to torture. Israel dismissed the torture allegations, saying all measures taken were in accordance with the law.democracynow+2

International Backlash

The detention drew sharp condemnation from both Brazil and Spain. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called the detention "unjustifiable" and said it constituted "a serious affront to international law." UN human rights experts also called for the activists' immediate release, citing allegations of assault that "may amount to torture, inhumane and degrading treatment."agenciabrasil.ebc+1

Adalah and FIDH issued a joint statement on May 10 confirming the deportations while condemning "the entire process as a flagrant violation of international law" and denouncing "the use of detention, interrogation and torture against a purely civilian mission."instagram+1

Israel's Foreign Ministry announced the deportations on Sunday, stating both men had been part of a "provocative flotilla."aljazeera