Activist Thiago Ávila detained at Buenos Aires airport: reports

Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila was detained and interrogated upon arrival at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery airport in Buenos Aires, according to posts shared on his official Instagram account and reports from local solidarity groups.

The social media account of Ávila, a prominent organizer with the Global Sumud Flotilla — an international civilian initiative aimed at challenging ‘Israel's’ naval blockade of Gaza through humanitarian aid missions — attributed the incident to what they described as recurring “zionist” persecution related to his activism.

According to the account, immigration officers in multiple countries have admitted to seeing alerts on his file citing alleged “supporting terrorism,” a “lost passport,” and instructions to contact Interpol.

The police also said his “immediate deportation” decision was made by a top level official in  the country, and that he will not be allowed to give a speech which was scheduled later on, according to his Instagram account. 

The activist, who has participated in previous Gaza-bound flotillas including the 2025 Freedom Flotilla and Global Sumud efforts, was in Argentina for a single day to launch the national chapter of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

He was scheduled to proceed to Barcelona the following day for preparations related to an upcoming mission intended to break the blockade.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is a large-scale, non-governmental effort involving activists from numerous countries.

It seeks to deliver humanitarian supplies and draw international attention to conditions in Gaza.

Previous iterations of the flotilla have faced interception by ‘Israeli’ forces, resulting in detentions and subsequent releases of participants.

Supporters in Argentina and internationally have condemned the detention as harassment, calling for Ávila’s immediate release and protection.

Local organizations, including trade union and human rights groups, expressed solidarity and criticized what they termed political persecution tied to his pro-Palestine advocacy.

Ávila has a documented history of involvement in international solidarity missions, including aid efforts to Cuba and multiple attempts to reach Gaza by sea.

He previously served on the steering committee of related flotilla coalitions and has spoken publicly about the challenges faced by participants in such initiatives.

At the time of publication, no official statement had been issued by Argentine immigration authorities or the Brazilian government regarding the incident.