Brazilian Activist Avila Returns After Israeli Deportation

Brazilian activist Thiago Avila returned to Sao Paulo on Monday after Israeli authorities released and deported him following a 10-day detention stemming from an aid flotilla intercepted at sea.

Avila and Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek, both steering committee members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, were among activists who set sail from Spain on April 12 aboard dozens of vessels from Spain, France and Italy. The group aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge Israel's naval blockade of the territory, which has been in place since 2007. Israeli naval forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters off the coast of Crete on April 30, detaining around 175 participants. Most were taken to Crete and released, but Avila and Abu Keshek were transported to Israel for questioning.

Israeli authorities held the two under suspicion of offenses including aiding the enemy, contact with a terrorist group and affiliation with an organization linked to Hamas, the militant group that governs Gaza and is designated a terrorist organization by Israel and many Western countries. Both men denied the allegations. No formal charges were filed. An Ashkelon court initially extended...