He was aboard the Madleen when Israeli forces arbitrarily boarded the humanitarian vessel in international waters.

On Friday, activist Thiago Avila returned to Brazil after being kidnapped by Israel since Monday while participating in a humanitarian mission to Gaza.

RELATED:

Eight Freedom Flotilla Activists Remain Prisoners in Israel

On June 9, the sailboat Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla, was intercepted in international waters by Israeli forces, who violently boarded the vessel. All aboard were detained and taken to Israeli territory, with their whereabouts unknown for several hours.

Eight of the 12 activists refused to sign deportation orders, including Avila and French-Palestinian European PM Rima Hassan. Both were held in inhumane conditions—windowless cells, no access to clean water, no time outside, and infested with bedbugs—in clear violation of international standards for the humane treatment of detainees.

“I plan to return with the Freedom Flotilla to bring aid to Gaza,” Avila said and accused Israel of violating human rights and international law but stressed that what the Flotilla members endured was only a fraction of the daily suffering of Palestinian civilians.

Avila was taken to the high-security Ayalon Prison, where he began a hunger and thirst strike in protest against Zionist brutality. He was placed in total isolation and subjected to psychological torture until his release on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Hassan was held at Neve Tirza Women’s Prison and punished with isolation for refusing to sign her deportation order and writing “Free Palestine” on her cell wall.

French Parliament Deputy Speaker Clement Guetier said Hassan was threatened by Israeli officers, who warned they would slam her head against the wall if she refused to sign the documents.

The European lawmaker arrived in Paris on Thursday and was greeted by a crowd at Place de la Republique. There, she vowed that more ships would challenge the Zionist blockade of Gaza.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: teleSUR

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