Comrades Thiago Avila and Saif Abukeshek were released. The international pronouncements and actions bore fruit. The struggle continues, and with it the active support and solidarity of the International Socialist League (ISL).

By Cele Fierro and Rubén Tzanoff

On Saturday 9, the Flotilla’s team of lawyers announced his release. Today, Sunday the 10th, Saif will land at El Prat Airport in Barcelona. And, at the time of writing, there are reports confirming that Thiago is traveling to Egypt.

The mobilizations of protest and solidarity with the Flotilla and Palestine ensured that more than 170 activists who were kidnapped in international waters were not taken to Israel and locked up for a week, as happened last year. They had to release us in Greece after more than 40 hours of kidnapping.

But we were missing two comrades: Thiago and Saif, with whom the Zionist forces, under the direct orders of Netanyahu, were particularly vicious because of their public and coordinating role. For this reason, they were kidnapped and taken to Israel, where they were kept in inhuman conditions and tortured for six days. Far from giving in, they resisted with a hunger strike.

While the Israeli “justice” and political power threatened them with accusations of direct links with Hamas, of being “provocateurs” and terrorists, the claim multiplied. The rapid response, with international actions and pronouncements, pressured for their release.

Today Saif will return to embrace his children and his partner, who consistently demanded his freedom. It was also reported that Thiago is traveling to Cairo. We are very happy: we are part of the same Flotilla and we embrace the same cause for Palestine.

Like most of the kidnapped activists, I am already in my country. From Buenos Aires and with Raul Laguna, we send you a big hug. Soon we will give them to you in person, in one of the next activities that unite us, be it the March of Return on May 15 or any other action for the Palestinian cause, which will find the International Socialist League (ISL) in the front line of active support and solidarity.

You may also be interested in: “Campaign for the freedom of Thiago Avila and Saif Abukeshek”.