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Thiago Ávila

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Ávila e Silva and the second or paternal family name is Oliveira.
Thiago Ávila
Ávila in 2021, wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh
Born
Thiago de Ávila e Silva Oliveira

(1986-08-26) 26 August 1986 (age 38)
Brasília, Brazil
Occupations
Years active2006–present[2]
Known forGaza humanitarian missions
Political partyPSOL
SpouseLara Souza
Children1

Thiago de Ávila e Silva Oliveira (Brazilian Portuguese: [tʃiˈaɡu dʒi ˈavilɐ i ˈsiwvɐ oliˈvejɾɐ]; born 26 August 1986)[1] is a Brazilian humanitarian and climate activist who gained international recognition as one of the participants aboard the June 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla.[3][4][5]

Born in 1986 in the federal capital, Brasília, Thiago Ávila has built a trajectory marked by political and humanitarian activism. In 2022, he ran for federal deputy under the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL).[1] He gained prominence through his participation in humanitarian aid missions to the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory under Israeli blockade.

Activism

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In June 2024, Ávila participated in the "International Summit on Gaza" in Tehran, Iran, an event attended by local authorities such as Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.[4] He also attended the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in his native Lebanon, where he acted as a documentarian of "violations committed by Israel", according to his interview with Arab-1.[4]

Ávila's work earned him recognition from the Embassy of Iran in Brasília, which highlighted his "communication work and solidarity with the Palestinian people".[4]

Gaza Freedom Flotilla (2025)

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Main article: June 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla

In June 2025, Ávila was part of the crew of the Madleen – a vessel that departed from Catania, Italy, carrying medical supplies, food, and hygiene items to Gaza. The initiative, organized by pro-Palestinian coalitions, aimed to symbolically break the reinforced Israeli blockade amid the Gaza genocide and denounce the "collective punishment" against Palestinians. Among the participants were Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan.[6]

The vessel was intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea and towed to the port of Ashdod. The incident has been described by organizers as a "kidnapping by Israeli forces";[7][8][9] Israel claimed the action was justified to prevent a breach of its naval blockade, which, however, is considered unlawful according to international law. Ávila and the other crew members were detained for deportation.[4][10] On 10 June 2025, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) confirmed that Ávila was being held in an Israeli detention center after refusing to sign deportation documents. Brazilian diplomats provided consular assistance, and the Brazilian government formally requested Ávila's release, reiterating its opposition to the Israeli blockade on Gaza and emphasizing the urgency of the humanitarian crisis in the region.[2][11] Between 11 and 12 June 2025, he was held in solitary confinement in Ayalon Prison after going on a dry hunger strike.[12][13][14] He was released that day and deported to Brazil.[15][16] In an official statement, the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), which is linked to the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship, classified the case as a kidnapping and a war crime.[17]

Online presence

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With over 880,000 followers on Instagram,[18] Ávila uses the platform to document humanitarian efforts and promote content related to Palestine and other countries, including Cuba and Lebanon.[3]

Other ventures

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In 2009, Thiago Ávila founded Globalvisa, a company specialized in visas, passports, translations and diplomatic assistance. He left the business in 2020.[19][20]

Personal life

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Ávila has a sister, Luana.[21] He is married to Lara Souza, with whom he has a daughter, Teresa (born 2024);[2][22] the girl was named after his mother, Teresa "Têca" Ávila, who suffers from complications from three strokes she had in 2006.[21][23] His father, Ivo de Araújo Oliveira, has also been involved with his son's humanitarian activities.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Eleições 2022: Mandato Coletivo Bem Viver Thi - PSOL - Ficha do candidato" [2022 Elections: Collective Mandate for Living Well Thi - PSOL - Candidate's profile]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Abusidu, Eman (10 June 2025). "'Free Thiago!': Brazilian voices grow louder after Israel arrest Ávila aboard Madleen". Middle East Monitor. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Quem é Thiago Ávila, ativista brasileiro que estava em embarcação a caminho de Gaza?" [Who is Thiago Ávila, the Brazilian activist who was on a boat heading to Gaza?]. CBN (in Brazilian Portuguese). 9 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Brasileiro que levava ajuda humanitária a Gaza foi ao funeral de líder do Hezbollah e falou em evento pró-Palestina no Irã" [Brazilian who was delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader and spoke at a pro-Palestine event in Iran]. O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 9 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  5. ^ Amado, Guilherme (9 June 2025). "Quem é Thiago Ávila, ativista detido com Greta Thunberg por Israel" [Who is Thiago Ávila, activist detained with Greta Thunberg by Israel]. PlatôBR (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Greta Thunberg e mais 11 ativistas tentavam chegar a Gaza em barco; veja nomes" [Greta Thunberg and 11 other activists were trying to reach Gaza by boat; see names]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 8 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  7. ^ Lucena, Leonardo (10 June 2025). "Ativista Thiago Ávila, da Flotilha da Liberdade, está em greve de fome" [Activist Thiago Ávila, from the Freedom Flotilla, is on hunger strike]. Brasil 247 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  8. ^ "EXCLUSIVO: Thiago Ávila se recusa a confessar crime e inicia greve de fome após audiência em Israel" [Thiago Ávila refuses to confess crime and begins hunger strike after hearing in Israel]. RT Brasil (in Portuguese). 10 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Thiago Ávila é separado dos demais presos e ameaçado com 7 dias de solitária em Israel" [Thiago Ávila separated from other prisoners and threatened with 7 days in solitary confinement in Israel]. RT Brasil (in Portuguese). 11 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  10. ^ "'Celulares na água': vídeo mostra momento em que embarcação com Greta Thunberg é interceptada por Israel" ['Cell phones in the water': video shows moment when boat carrying Greta Thunberg is intercepted by Israel]. CBN (in Brazilian Portuguese). 9 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Itamaraty confirma detenção de ativista brasileiro em centro israelense" [Itamaraty confirms detention of Brazilian activist in Israeli center]. CNN Brasil (in Portuguese). 10 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Brazilian activist on seized aid ship begins hunger strike: Rights group". Sinar Daily. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Israel holding two Gaza boat activists in solitary confinement, NGO claims". The Times of Israel. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  14. ^ Pordeus León, Lucas (11 June 2025). "Brasileiro Thiago Ávila vai para solitária em prisão de Israel" [Brazilian Thiago Ávila goes to solitary confinement in Israeli prison]. Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Ativista Thiago Ávila deixa prisão em Israel e está a caminho do Brasil" [Activist Thiago Ávila leaves prison in Israel and is on his way to Brazil]. Istoé (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Gaza: brasileiro Thiago Ávila e outros cinco ativistas do barco Madleen são deportados de Israel". BBC News Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Nota Pública nº 37, de 09 de junho de 2025 - Nota Pública de repúdio ao sequestro do navio Madleen, ocorrido em águas internacionais, por forças militares do governo de Israel" [Public Statement No. 37, June 9, 2025 – Public Statement of Repudiation Against the Kidnapping of the Madleen Ship, Occurred in International Waters, by Military Forces of the Government of Israel]. Participa + Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 9 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025. The CNDH understands that the interception of a civilian vessel with an exclusively humanitarian purpose, in international waters, constitutes a serious violation of international treaties ratified by the State of Israel, as well as a war crime in yet another episode of obstruction of aid to victims of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
  18. ^ "Thiago Ávila". Instagram.com. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  19. ^ "Globalvisa anuncia abertura de unidade em Belém ainda no primeiro trimestre" [Globalvisa announces opening of unit in Belém in the first three months]. Luciana Barbosa (in Brazilian Portuguese). 25 January 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  20. ^ Arruda Castro, Gabriel de (10 June 2025). "Quem é o brasileiro 'socialista' que viajou com Greta Thunberg no 'iate da selfie'" [Who is the Brazilian 'socialist' who traveled with Greta Thunberg on the 'selfie yacht']. Gazeta do Povo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  21. ^ a b Ávila, Thiago [@thiagoavilabrasil]; (29 September 2023). "Hoje Mãecaco está completando 61 anos de vida e como chegou muita gente nova por aqui, vale a pena contar: essa é minha mãe!" [Today Mommy is celebrating her 61st birthday and since so many new people have arrived here, it's worth saying: this is my mother!] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 13 June 2025 – via Instagram.
  22. ^ Assumpção, Gustavo (9 June 2025). "Lara Souza, mulher de Thiago Ávila, pede ajuda após barco com ajuda humanitária a caminho de Gaza ser interceptado por Israel" [Lara Souza, wife of Thiago Ávila, asks for help after ship with humanitarian aid on its way to Gaza is intercepted by Israel]. Marie Claire Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  23. ^ Freitas, Camilla (9 May 2021). "Dia das Mães: elas ensinaram seus filhos a lutar por um mundo melhor" [Mother's Day: They taught their children to fight for a better world]. Ecoa (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  24. ^ "Exclusivo: ativista brasileiro será deportado de Israel, diz pai" [Exclusive: Brazilian activist will be deported from Israel, father says]. Congresso em Foco (in Brazilian Portuguese). 10 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
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