Brazilian Activist Starts Hunger Strike After Israel Intercepts Gaza Aid Vessel

(MENAFN) Thiago Avila, a Brazilian activist detained on board the Gaza-bound aid vessel Madleen, has initiated a hunger and water strike, according to the Israeli human rights group and legal center, Adalah, which reported this development Tuesday.

Israeli forces intercepted the ship in international waters early Monday, detaining 12 activists from multiple countries who were attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza in defiance of Israel’s blockade.

The detainees come from Brazil, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Spain, and Türkiye.

On Tuesday, four activists—including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg—were deported from Israel. The remaining eight activists, who declined to sign deportation documents, are being held at Givon Prison in Ramla.

These eight individuals appeared before a detention court in Ramla on Tuesday, where they faced deportation orders issued by Israel’s Interior Ministry, Adalah stated.

During a five-hour hearing, Adalah’s legal team—comprising lawyers Hadeel Abu Saleh, Lubna Toma, and volunteer attorney Afnan Khalifa—contended that Israel’s interception of the Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition effort to challenge Gaza’s blockade, breaches international law.

The lawyers argued that the activists were unlawfully taken from international waters to Israel and wrongfully labeled “illegal infiltrators” without any legal foundation, Adalah said.

The legal defense condemned Israel’s Gaza blockade as an illegal form of collective punishment designed to starve civilians. They highlighted that this violates interim measures set by the International Court of Justice in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel. The team maintained that the activists were exercising their lawful right to provide humanitarian aid amid severe famine threats in Gaza.

They called for the activists’ immediate and unconditional release and demanded their return to the Madleen so they could complete the humanitarian mission before safely returning to their countries.

According to Adalah, the lawyers emphasized Israel’s lack of jurisdiction, noting the vessel was intercepted in international waters, making the detentions and deportation orders unlawful.

The detained activists reported feeling “kidnapped” and forcibly taken to Israel, stressing that their mission was solely to break the siege and provide aid to Gazans.

They also complained about poor detention conditions, including infestations of bed bugs and undrinkable tap water.

Israeli authorities requested the court to keep the activists detained until deportation under Israel’s Entry Law, which permits detention for up to 72 hours if individuals refuse voluntary departure.

Adalah reiterated its urgent demand for the activists’ release and return to their home countries, anticipating a court ruling soon.

Since October 2023, the Israeli military has maintained a harsh offensive in Gaza, disregarding international calls for a ceasefire, resulting in nearly 55,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its actions in the enclave.

MENAFN11062025000045017169ID1109659466