Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, a member of the Global Sumud flotilla, arrived to Sao Paulo on Monday after being abducted by Israel in international water.
Tel Aviv illegally detained Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian Thiago Avila for more than a week. Both were released after the UN, Spain and Brazil called for their immediate release.
“From their abduction in international waters to their unlawful detention in total isolation and the ill-treatment they were subjected to, the Israeli authorities’ actions were a punitive attack on a purely civilian mission,” Adalah, the rights group that represented the pair, said after their release.
Adalah said the two men had been subjected to “psychological abuse”, including prolonged interrogations, constant bright lighting in their cells, complete isolation and transfers while blindfolded, even during medical examinations.