Mother of detained flotilla activist Avila dies in Brazil
Teresa Regina de Avila e Silva, the mother of Global Sumud Flotilla activist Thiago Avila, has died at the age of 63, the group said in a post on X.
“She was a woman of remarkable joy and great strength,” the flotilla said, adding that she faced years of serious illness “with courage, serenity, and dignity, driven by an unwavering will to live and surrounded by the unconditional dedication of her family”.
Avila remains detained in Israel after being seized when a flotilla vessel was intercepted in international waters off Greece, according to the group.
The flotilla said his two-year-old daughter carries her grandmother’s name.
Avila and Spanish activist Saif Abu Keshek have been held since being separated from others on board, with an Israeli court extending their detention until Sunday, 10 May, based on what rights groups described as “secret evidence” not disclosed to the detainees or their lawyers.
Teresa Regina de Ávila e Silva, Thiago's mother, passed away in Brasília.
We express our deepest condolences to Teresa's family and loved ones.
She was 63 years old, a woman of remarkable joy and great strength. She faced years of serious illness with courage, serenity, and… pic.twitter.com/YcgQHiYtJX
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla) May 5, 2026