This blog was written by Laura Hassler, Director and Founder of Musicians Without Borders
Thiago is like Madonna, he doesn’t need a last name, said Kylie to me when I couldn’t remember Thiago Avila’s surname. We were sitting in the Dominicus Church in Amsterdam, waiting for the start of a program of speakers for ‘Stop the Nakba’, the culmination of a Hague Group conference on stopping the genocide in Gaza. Both of us had followed Thiago’s activism for the Global Sumud Flotilla, his inspiring leadership in this nonviolent attempt by world citizens to break the blockade of Gaza, his gentle, inclusive, inviting charisma, and his bravery, which he wore as if that were easy.
Kylie walked over to check the table selling buttons and bags. Then, I saw Thiago nearby, just walking around ahead of the program. Walked up to him, introduced myself, gave the shortest ever elevator pitch about Musicians Without Borders and our program in Palestine. He was so warm and welcoming, so appreciative, that I dared ask him to record a few words. Which he did, talking about how music has always been crucial to struggles for liberation and justice, naming Bob Marley, Victor Jarra, Mercedes Sosa. And sending greetings to Musicians Without Borders.
I stood, holding my phone, the tears running down my face.
We proudly published Thiago’s statement—by that time, he was on one of the Flotilla boats, the largest group ever of citizens from all over the world, sailing from southern European cities toward Gaza, bringing humanitarian help for people suffering the most visible genocide ever committed, while world powers watch and do nothing—well, next to nothing.
Turns out, he also sings and plays guitar, as some of the Flotilla reports show.
Decades ago, during the US war in Vietnam, my father Al Hassler and Vietnamese Buddhist peace leader, Thich Nhat Hanh together founded Dai Dong, a short-lived initiative to re-define global relationships based on the principle of ‘a world of togetherness’, like the South African concept of Ubuntu (I am because you are), a vision of a world in which every person sees their own children in every child.
Thiago embodies that vision—read his letter to his 3-year-old daughter, Teresa:
Dai Dong never took off, perhaps we had not yet seen clearly enough the suffering of others to understand the critical necessity of this principle for our common survival.
Perhaps now is the time.
Thiago is now in an Israeli prison, subjected to beatings, torture, intimidation and threats to his life. The same fate for his Flotilla friend and comrade, Saif Abu Keshek, also the father of beautiful young children.
Reports are that both young men are on a hunger-and-thirst strike against their detainment. Whether through their conscientious refusal of food and water, or through the maltreatment by Israeli forces, both of their lives are now in grave danger.
Please, everyone, do what you can to stand for Thiago and Saif, to put pressure on governments to demand their release, to share and publicize their situation, to spread their message of justice, nonviolence and peace—for Gaza and the world. Because if the world is to survive, then we all, like Thiago, need to see those children as our own.
Laura Hassler, May 8, 2026
Update: On the 9th May 2026,0 it was confirmed that Thiago and Saif would be released and returned to their home countries. The were reportedly released on 10th May.
Main image photo credit: Ilia Yefimovichvia Getty Images
