Thiago Ávila | May 4, 2026 | Occupied Palestine
Editor’s note: On April 29 2026, over a hundred pro-Palestine organizers and activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla were illegally intercepted and detained in international waters by the fascist IDF. Nearly all were taken to the Greek island of Crete (due to the fact they were roughly 1,000 nautical miles away from the Gaza coast), except for activists Thiago Ávila from Brazil and Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish-Swedish national of Palestinian origin. Thiago and Saif were kidnapped and brought to Israel as an attempt to impose criminal charges on these two internationalist fighters. Per the Brazilian Embassy and Global Sumud Flotilla (through witness testimony), Thiago and Saif have been subjected to abuses and violence widely recognized as torture under international law.
We at the American Party of Labor express our utmost support and solidarity with Thiago, Saif and the whole of the Global Sumud Flotilla. We demand Thiago and Saif be released and that Israel be held accountable for their illegal detention, torture, and the farcical terrorist charges put against them in fascistic and genocidal Israeli court. We demand that humanitarian aid be allowed into Gaza! Delivering aid is not a crime!
Below is a letter dictated by Thiago to his daughter from an Israeli prison. We re-publish it here unabridged and unedited.
Free Thiago Ávila!
Free Saif Abukeshek!
Free Palestine!
Dear Teresa,
I’m sorry for not being home with you right now. Unfortunately your father, your mother, and so many people around the world understood the historical task that we have the responsibility to fulfill.
Today over a million children are suffering a genocide, being starved to death, being amputated without anesthesia, and suffering from horrific, hateful ideas, despite not knowing what Zionism and Imperialism is.
I’m sure you miss me too much and all the mothers and fathers of Palestinian children also miss them so much and would give anything to live a life of love, happiness, and joy that every human being deserves, independently of race, religion, ethnicity or any other characteristic.
Your world will be safer because many parents decided to give everything to build this better world for you.
I hope someday you understand that because I love you so much there was nothing more dangerous for you and for other children than living in a world that accepts genocide.
Please remember your father as the person that would sing to you and play the guitar for you to sleep. And when you grow up your mom will also tell you that your father was a revolutionary and that even when facing the most horrific people alive – Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Itamar Ben-Gvir – he stood firm to the belief of building a better world.
Please do not forget Palestine!
With all my love,
Thiago Ávila.