TUNIS, Tunisia – Tunisian authorities have detained several prominent pro-Palestinian activists involved in organizing a new international flotilla aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to a statement from the campaign organizers on Friday.
The detentions mark a significant escalation in tensions surrounding the « Global Sumud Flotilla » and come amid a formal investigation by Tunisia’s National Guard financial crimes unit. Local media reports indicate that the probe is examining suspected money laundering, fraud, and the alleged misuse of funds collected through public donations for the flotilla campaign.
The investigation reportedly targets multiple managers and members of the flotilla’s steering committee. While Tunisian authorities have not publicly commented on the specific detentions, activists confirmed that Wael Naouar, Jawaher Channa, and Nabil Channoufi—all members of the Global Sumud Flotilla steering committee and its Tunisian organizing body—were taken into custody to verify the origin and management of the donation funds. None of the detained individuals have made any public statements.
Organizers denounced the arrests, accusing authorities of targeting peaceful activists supporting the Palestinian cause and calling for their immediate release.
These detentions follow several days of disruption to flotilla-related events in the Tunisian capital. Authorities banned a planned event on Thursday that was expected to feature international figures, including Brazilian campaigner Thiago Ávila, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, and Palestinian organizer Seif Abu Koshk. In a related development, Ávila’s team posted on Facebook that he was also detained on Friday at Brussels Airport while transiting from Tunis to Amsterdam for a meeting of The Hague Group.
Earlier in the week, activists reported that security forces prevented a ceremony at the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said intended to honor port workers who had supported a previous flotilla mission. Just prior to Friday’s arrests, the Tunisian branch of the flotilla’s steering committee had also called for a protest in Tunis on Saturday night in support of Iran following joint strikes by the United States and Israel.
The new flotilla mission, which seeks to challenge Israeli restrictions and draw attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, is slated to include more than 1,000 activists, such as medical doctors, war crimes investigators, and engineers. Organizers state it will be supported by a land convoy expected to attract thousands more, with boats planned to sail from Spain, Tunisia, and Italy.
The operation carries significant risk, as Israel has intercepted similar vessels in the past, detaining activists in a comparable flotilla effort last year.
The campaign unfolds against a backdrop of a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to the United Nations, hundreds of thousands of pallets of humanitarian supplies have been collected at various crossings since a fragile ceasefire was established in October. However, the situation remains dire for Gaza’s population of over 2 million Palestinians, a crisis compounded by Israel’s suspension of more than two dozen humanitarian organizations from operating in the Strip for failing to comply with new registration rules.
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