Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian activist sailing to Gaza alongside Greta Thunberg on the “Freedom Flotilla,” has a long record of anti-Israel radicalism—including attending the funeral of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Ávila is currently on board the Madleen, a 59-foot boat carrying Thunberg and other activists that is approaching Israeli waters in an attempt to sail to Gaza. The group, which has been mocked as the “selfie flotilla,” is using the voyage as a publicity stunt. Ávila has been seen in numerous videos filmed on the boat singing and spreading anti-Israel rhetoric.

The vessel is set to arrive on June 7 or 8, though it is unlikely that the Israel Defense Forces will allow the boat anywhere near Gaza. Other activists aboard the Madleen include a French member of the European Parliament, Rima Hassan, and “Game of Thrones” actor Liam Cunningham.

Greta Thunberg with part of the crew of the ship Madleen, shortly before departure for Gaza, during the press conference in San Giovanni Li Cuti on June 01, 2025 in Catania, Italy. (Photo by Fabrizio Villa/Getty Images)

Regarding the blockade, the IDF told The Daily Wire that it is “prepared for a wide range of scenarios which it will act upon in accordance with the directives of the political echelon.”

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This voyage is not Ávila’s first: he was also aboard a larger vessel that was attacked and disabled before arriving in Malta to pick up Thunberg last month. It was later reportedly towed to Libya. The group accuses the IDF of the attack, though the IDF has not taken responsibility.

Ávila, who has half a million followers on Instagram, has a long history of radical activism. He met the hostages in Gaza “prisoners,” meeting with terrorists, idolized Nasrallah at his funeral, and said that he “despises” both the United States and Israel.

Ávila posted a photo of himself meeting with Leila Khaled—a former member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) who hijacked a civilian airliner in 1969. (Photo: Screenshot/X)

Ávila has highlighted his interactions with terrorists, including posting a photo of himself meeting with Leila Khaled—a former member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) who hijacked a civilian airliner in 1969. Jerusalem Post reporter Michael Starr shared a screenshot from Ávila’s Instagram story of the meeting where he said she is one of the people he “most admire[s] in the entire world.”

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In February, Ávila responded to a post about his meeting with Khaled, saying he does not support terrorists—but added, “I actually despise Israel and the United States,” implying he views them as such.

In February, Ávila widely shared his attendance at Nasrallah’s funeral, posting interviews where he said Nasrallah “shines” as a figure who was “thinking about liberation of the entire world.” In another video, he called Nasrallah a “martyr” who inspires people “all over the world.”

Thiago Ávila posted a video of himself at the funeral of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (Photo: screenshot/Instagram)

“Not many people can say that they defeated the greatest evil forces of their generation not only once, but many times like Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah,” Ávila said in the interview, adding that Lebanon “will never be defeated by the Zionists.”

In a third video, Ávila showed himself wearing a keffiyeh among the masses at the funeral, including approaching Nasrallah’s coffin.

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Starr’s post also included a screenshot of Ávila, revealing that he first met Nasrallah when he was 19 years old, adding that he was “so inspired” by watching the terrorist leader speak.

Ávila, revealed that he first met Nasrallah when he was 19 years old, adding that he was “so inspired” by watching the terrorist leader speak.

“Wherever there is injustice and colonization, there will be people willing to fight for liberation,” Ávila wrote. “And today, the Lebanese resistance shows that it’s very much alive, reorganizing and inspired to follow the footsteps of its leader. I was very honored and very humbled to be here on this historical moment and to meet such inspiring people.”

In the days after Hamas’ massacre, rape, and kidnapping of Israeli civilians, Ávila criticized UN Secretary General António Guterres for calling for the immediate release of the hostages, calling them instead “prisoners” and advocated for them to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.

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In a second tweet, Ávila accused Israel of committing a “crime against humanity” in its response to Hamas just four days after the massacre.

Ávila did not respond to a request for comment.

Seattle University has been hit with a federal civil rights complaint over scholarships and programs that select students on the basis of race and sex, including one that’s administered in partnership with Costco.

In its complaint, the Equal Protection Project cites three different scholarships and programs that advance the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda, including one sponsored by the retail giant. The complaint, first viewed by The Daily Wire, calls on the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to investigate the university and enforce civil rights law.

The Costco Scholarship Fund, which both Seattle University and the University of Washington participate in, is intended for “underrepresented students of color.”

William A. Jacobson, the founder of the Equal Protection Project, told The Daily Wire that the Costco program doesn’t outline specific racial or ethnic requirements, but that it could foster exclusionary practices.

“Costco has created a program for ‘underrepresented students of color’ but allows others to participate,” Jacobson said. “We call on Costco to make clear both in its program and in its partnerships with schools like SU that discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin is prohibited.”

Costco told The Daily Wire that the scholarship fund takes into account several factors when selecting recipients, including academic record, community service history, and whether or not the applicant is “part of an underserved group, such as youth in foster care, historically underrepresented minority students, and students who are the first in their family to pursue a college degree.” Costco added that “the program is legally compliant.”

Seattle University offers other programs explicitly designed for people of specific demographic backgrounds.

The Sinegal Fellowship, open to students who graduated from Seattle University’s undergraduate program and are going on to pursue an advanced degree at the school, is specifically designed for students who participated in the Costco Fund Scholarship. Seattle University states that the fellowship “provides support for underrepresented minority Costco scholars.”

“Creating educational opportunities based on race, color, national origin, or sex violates Titles VI and IX of the Civil Rights Act, as well as Washington State law and SU’s own non-discrimination policies,” Jacobson explained. “We are asking SU to live up to the law and its own rules, and to remove the discriminatory eligibility barriers it has erected.”

The university also offers the Justice Mary I. Yu Endowed Scholarship, which offers financial assistance to “underrepresented students at Seattle University School of Law, especially women of color.”

The Women of Seattle University Endowed Scholarship, available to current students who meet a certain GPA threshold, is targeted at “underrepresented student populations, especially women.”

Jacobson told The Daily Wire that Seattle University’s programs are in violation of the Civil Rights Act.

“Aggressive DEI programming must never be permitted to cross the line into unlawful discrimination in violation of the Civil Rights Act. This line, unfortunately, appears to have been breached at SU,” Jacobson said. “It is time for higher education everywhere to focus on the inherent worth and dignity of every student rather than categorizing students based on identity groups.”

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“The Equal Protection Project calls on the Department of Education to require the senior administration of SU to uphold nondiscrimination standards throughout the institution,” he added.

Seattle University did not respond to a request for comment.

Seattle University isn’t the first institution that the Equal Protection Project has hit with a federal civil rights complaint. It also reported the University of Rhode Island’s 51 DEI-focused scholarship offerings, which discriminated against white and male students. The complaint prompted a federal investigation from the Department of Education.