Brazilian Activist Detained by Israel Writes to Daughter: 'Don’t Forget Palestine'
Thiago Ávila
Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila wrote a letter from an Israeli prison to his young daughter, apologizing for his absence and explaining his fight against genocide. He expressed hope that she would understand why parents sacrifice everything for a better world.
In a letter transcribed by his lawyer from an Israeli prison, Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila apologized to his young daughter Teresa for not being with her and explained why he joined a humanitarian convoy to Gaza.
"I'm sorry I can't be home with you right now. Unfortunately, your father, your mother, and so many people around the world have understood the historic mission we must fulfill," Ávila wrote.
He noted that more than a million children are currently suffering genocide, starvation, limb amputations without anesthesia, and enduring terrible hateful ideologies without knowing what Zionism or imperialism is.
Ávila expressed: "I'm sure you miss me a lot, and all the fathers and mothers of Palestinian children miss their children just as much, and they would do anything for a life of love, happiness, and joy that every person deserves," he wrote.
The Brazilian activist explained to his daughter that her world will be safer because many parents decided to sacrifice everything to build a better world for her. He said: "I hope one day you will understand, because I love you so much, nothing is more dangerous for you and for other children than living in a world that accepts genocide."
Ávila told his daughter to remember him as the one who used to sing and play guitar for her to sleep. When she grows up, her mother will tell her that her father was a revolutionary who stood up to the most terrible people like Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Itamar Ben-Gvir, firm in the belief of building a better world.
He ended the letter with a message: "Please, don't forget Palestine!"
The letter was first published on Thiago Ávila's Facebook account on July 3, 2025.
