Death of Brazilian activist Thiago Avila's mother during his detention by the occupation authorities

Prominent Brazilian activist Thiago Avila has lost his mother, while he remains missing behind the bars of Israeli occupation prisons, following his arrest as part of a campaign targeting solidarity activists in the Freedom Flotilla. The team managing Avila's social media accounts expressed their shock at this painful news, pointing to the extent of psychological suffering the activist will face when he learns of the news while in captivity. The team issued an urgent appeal to the international community to strengthen solidarity and demand the immediate release of Thiago and his colleague Saif Abu Kashk to enable them to bid farewell to their loved ones.

In the context of legal procedures, an occupation court decided on Tuesday to extend the detention of activists Avila and Abu Kashk until next Sunday, based on the request of the security services. The human rights center assigned to defend them stated that this extension comes within the framework of restricting international activists who tried to reach the Gaza Strip by sea. These measures face widespread criticism from human rights organizations that view the detention as targeting peaceful humanitarian work.

Occupation forces carried out a widespread arrest operation last Thursday, targeting about 175 activists of various nationalities, while they were on board the Freedom Flotilla ships. The flotilla, which consists of about 20 ships, aims to break the suffocating siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and deliver essential relief aid to the residents. These international popular movements come amid the continued strict restrictions imposed by the occupation authorities on the entry of basic and medical supplies into the besieged Strip.

It is worth noting that the operation to intercept the flotilla took place in international waters off the Greek island of Crete, hundreds of kilometers away from the occupied Palestinian coasts. This measure represents a significant escalation in the pursuit of international solidarity activists, as the arrests took place at a much further point compared to previous flotilla interception operations. Human rights demands continue for the need to protect activists and ensure their safety, while emphasizing their right to express their solidarity with the Palestinian cause and reject the illegal siege.

We can only imagine the extent of grief Thiago will feel when he learns of the death of his beloved mother; we rely on everyone's solidarity to strengthen the support network and demand his immediate release.