Father Writes to Daughter From Israeli Prison After Gaza Aid Mission
Maryam Tariq
Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila has sparked emotional reactions worldwide after a letter he dictated from an Israeli prison to his young daughter, Teresa, began circulating online.
Ávila was detained after participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian mission attempting to challenge the blockade on Gaza and deliver aid to Palestinians suffering under months of war, hunger, and destruction.
In the letter, written from Shikma Prison in Ashkelon, he apologised to his daughter for being away from home, but said he felt morally responsible to stand with Gaza’s children.
“There was nothing more dangerous for you and for other children than living in a world that accepts genocide.”
The activist described Palestinian children as victims of starvation, bombardment, and medical collapse, saying parents around the world must act to build a safer future for all children regardless of nationality or religion.
He also asked Teresa to remember him not as a prisoner, but as a loving father who sang to her and believed in justice even during fear and imprisonment.
The Global Sumud Flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces while attempting to reach Gaza. According to legal advocates and activists, Ávila and others reported harsh detention conditions, long interrogations, and alleged mistreatment while in custody.
Reports also say Ávila began a hunger strike in protest of his detention and the ongoing blockade on Gaza.
The letter has since spread widely across social media, with many calling it one of the most emotional personal testimonies to emerge from the humanitarian missions attempting to reach Gaza during the war.
Sources: Al Jazeera coverage of Thiago Ávila’s letter, Thiago Ávila facebook
