Thiago Ávila lands in Brazil and is welcomed by pro‑Palestinian group
Activist Thiago Ávila—one of the 12 crew of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a boat that was intercepted by Israel on its way to the Gaza Strip—arrived in Brazil today (Jun. 13). The vessel had set off on a humanitarian mission to offer aid to the Palestinians.
Ávila landed at São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport. Surrounded by ers of the Palestinian cause who made encouraging words reverberate through the terminal lobby, the leader pointed out he was still wearing the uniform he was given when he was sent to a solitary cell in reprisal for his hunger strike, where he stayed for two days. He described the diplomatic representation, which helped him at the time of his arrest, as “extremely helpful.”
He told reporters that his cell was in a dungeon and that the only reason the attack on the crew was not more intense was because of the presence of Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan.
Assaults
Ávila was asked about possible aggressions that Israeli forces may have inflicted on him. Calm and composed, he replied that the violations of law that he suffered are a just small “fraction” compared to the violence to which Palestinians are subjected.
He also noted that Israel tried to use a “publicity stunt” to convey the impression that the activists were being welcomed, while in reality they were forced to sign documents saying they had entered the region illegally.
The activist said he did not sign any documents, adding that the authorities banned him from the country for a century.
Ávila believes the Brazilian government should break off relations with Israel and believes that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva could even interpret the scenario as an opportunity to make an even bigger exit with this gesture. In his opinion, Brazil urgently needs to detach itself from what he called a “hateful ideology.” “All they have are their weapons, their hatred, their army,” he said.
He argued that it is necessary to separate anti-Semitism from anti-Zionism and to there are Jews all over the world who the Palestinians and oppose the massacre carried out by Israel. The two nations once lived in harmony, he noted. “British imperialism and Zionism destroyed the dream of living in peace,” he said.
Finally, he called for everyone to unite against what he sees as today’s “enemy number one,” which in his view is Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The answer to Israel’s opponents is a chain of solidarity, affection, love, and persistence, he concluded.
