São Paulo, Brazil – Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, who was on board a vessel operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and intercepted by Israeli security forces off the coast of Gaza, is on his way back to Brazil. The information was confirmed on Monday evening by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a post on X.
“The Itamaraty Secretary-General confirmed the arrival of Thiago Ávila at Tel Aviv airport, from where he will return to Brazil,” the message read. “Officials from the Brazilian Embassy were present at the airport to ensure that the Brazilian national was treated with dignity and that his rights were respected.”
Ávila was one of the passengers aboard the Madleen, a vessel flying the British flag.
The boat also included among its crew Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg, French lawmaker Rima Hassan, and nine other volunteer activists.
The group intended to break the maritime blockade imposed on the Palestinian territory of Gaza since 2007, the year Hamas took control of the enclave. However, the vessel was intercepted by the Israeli Navy roughly 200 kilometers off the Gaza coast—still in international waters—on Sunday night.
Following the interception, the passengers were escorted to the Israeli port city of Ashdod, in the country’s south, and then handed over to local authorities to begin deportation procedures.
On X, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the situation with sarcasm.
“The passengers of the ‘Selfie Yacht’ arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to depart from Israel and return to their home countries,” the ministry wrote. “Some of the ‘Selfie Yacht’ passengers are expected to leave within the next few hours. Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation. Consuls from the passengers’ home countries met them at the airport.”
Earlier in the day, the Brazilian government issued an official statement calling for the release of the activists detained by Israel and demanding the end of restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip.
“Recalling the principle of freedom of navigation in international waters, Brazil urges the Israeli government to release the detained crew members,” the statement read. “It further stresses the need for Israel to immediately lift all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Palestinian territory, in accordance with its obligations as an occupying power.”
At the beginning of June, the Madleen departed from Sicily, Italy, carrying food, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies bound for Gaza. The mission aimed to deliver the aid directly to the Palestinian population while drawing international attention to the worsening living conditions in the territory.
Israel maintains that the naval blockade is necessary to prevent weapons and materials that could aid Hamas from reaching the enclave.
Featured image: Activists aboard the sailboat “Madleen” (photo credit: @gazafreedomflotilla via Instagram)
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