{"id":109398,"date":"2026-05-12T02:38:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T02:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/109398\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T02:38:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T02:38:13","slug":"brazilian-flotilla-activist-returns-home-alleges-torture-during-israel-detention-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/109398\/","title":{"rendered":"Brazilian Flotilla Activist Returns Home, Alleges Torture During Israel Detention"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAO PAULO, May 11 (Reuters) – Brazilian activist \u2060Thiago \u2060Avila returned to Sao \u2060Paulo on Monday following his detention and deportation from Israel, where \u200bhe alleged he was tortured and witnessed abuses of Palestinian prisoners during 10 days in \u200ccustody.<\/p>\n

Avila and Spanish national Abu \u200cKeshek were part of the second Global Sumud Flotilla that launched from Spain on \u2060April 12 \u2060attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering aid. The \u200btwo men were arrested and taken to Israel after Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla, while more than 100 other pro-Palestinian activists were taken to Crete.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Avila and Abu Keshek were held \u200bunder suspicion of offences including aiding the enemy and contact with a terrorist group. \u2060Both \u2060denied the allegations. They\u00a0were released \u2060on Saturday \u200band handed to immigration authorities for deportation.<\/p>\n

“My return was simply a correction of a \u200bserious violation. I was \u2060kidnapped by Israel, I wasn’t imprisoned,” Avila told reporters after his arrival at Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport.<\/p>\n

Avila claimed that he and Abu Keshek suffered “all kinds of violations” during their detention, adding that Palestinian prisoners in nearby cells experienced worse treatment.<\/p>\n

Israel dismissed claims \u2060by human rights group Adalah, which represented the men in a court hearing \u2060in Israel, that the men had been tortured in custody, and said all measures taken were in accordance with the law.<\/p>\n

The governments of Spain and Brazil have said the detention was unlawful.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We need to defeat (Israeli Prime Minister) Netanyahu and (U.S. President) Donald Trump, we need to defeat the war criminals,” Avila said as supporters held signs calling for Brazil to cut ties with Israel.<\/p>\n

Gaza is largely run by Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is designated as \u2060a terrorist group by Israel and much of the West.<\/p>\n

The group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel started the Gaza war that has left much of the enclave’s population homeless and dependent on aid – that humanitarian agencies say \u200bis arriving too slowly.<\/p>\n

(Reporting by Lais Morais in Sao Paulo; Writing \u200bby Fernando Cardoso; Editing by John Mair)<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters.<\/p>\n

Photos You Should See \u2013 April 2026<\/p>\n

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