Greta Thunberg‘s buddy and accused groper was taken into custody by law enforcement after their peace flotilla landed in Israel, officials said.
Thiago Ávila, along with Palestinian activist Saif Abu Keshek, were detained under suspicion of “illegal activity,” the Israel Foreign Ministry said Saturday.
“Saif Abu Keshek, a leading member of the PCPA – an organization designated and sanctioned by the United States as a Hamas front – and Thiago Ávila, who operates with the PCPA and is suspected of illegal activity, have arrived in Israel,” the agency said.
“They will be transferred for questioning by law enforcement authorities. Both will receive a consular visit from the representatives of their respective countries in Israel.”
The vessels, which were part of a second Global Sumud flotilla, were seized by Israeli forces.
The other roughly 175 members of their flotilla were rerouted to the Greek island of Crete.
The flotilla had set sail from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12 in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance.
Israel’s foreign ministry called the flotilla organizers “professional provocateurs” and said: “Israel will not allow the breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.”
The Brazilian and Spanish governments issued a joint statement slamming Israel’s action against the activists.
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“This blatantly illegal action by the Israeli authorities, outside their jurisdiction, constitutes an affront to international law, is subject to adjudication before international courts,” the countries said.
Thunberg also alleged the pair were being “tortured,” and claimed others had been “beaten” before they were dropped off in Greece.
“They are being detained based on made-up accusations following their commitment to Palestinian liberation,” the activist said on Instagram.
“They have devoted their lives to stand and act in solidarity with Palestine and oppressed people. They are committed friends, comrades, fathers and sons, and we demand their immediate release. They are being held, imprisoned and tortured alongside thousands of Palestinians who are held without charges and being tortured as well in Israeli prisons.”
The married Ávila was recently accused of “sexual misconduct” with three volunteers on the flotilla.
He denied the accusations last month.
“These allegations are obviously not true,” he told The Post via WhatsApp.
With Post Wires
