Four activists from a Gaza aid flotilla have been released from detention in Libya.
Recent developments in Libya highlight the resilience of international solidarity movements advocating for Palestinian rights, as four pro-Palestinian activists have been released after a month in detention. The Global Sumud Flotilla group reported that the campaigners have returned to Tunis, signaling both relief and continued challenges for those advocating for humanitarian access to Gaza. With six additional activists on the brink of release, the situation underscores the importance of unwavering global support for freedom and justice in the region.
Four pro-Palestinian activists who had been detained in Libya for approximately a month have been released, according to the Global Sumud Flotilla group. The organization announced on Wednesday that Achraf Khoja from Tunisia, Matias Rodriguez from Uruguay, and Italians Domenico Centrone and Leonarda Alberizia have successfully departed for Tunis. Furthermore, the group indicated that six other detainees are expected to be released within the next 24 hours, marking a positive turn in their efforts.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed his satisfaction regarding the release of the Italian nationals, noting that the two activists, along with Rodriguez, who holds Italian citizenship, were handed over to Italy’s consul in Benghazi. They are anticipated to return to Italy later on Wednesday.
More than 400 activists had been arrested last month in international waters while attempting to sail toward Gaza in a bid to break the blockade imposed by Israel. The activists detained in Libya were affiliated with a separate group that sought to reach Gaza via land. In light of their detention, the activists undertook a hunger strike to protest the circumstances of their confinement, illustrating their commitment to the cause.
As detailed by Amnesty International, on May 24, 2026, an armed group linked to Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), aligned with the de facto authorities in eastern and southern Libya, detained ten humanitarian activists from eight different countries while they were en route to the city of Sirte. Their objective was to negotiate the safe passage of a humanitarian convoy through Libya and Egypt, aiming to continue the journey to Gaza.
After enduring periods of enforced disappearance ranging from two to nine days, the activists were interrogated before being placed under pretrial detention pending investigations into charges of “assembly without authorization,” as reported by Amnesty International. The incidents surrounding their detention serve as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for humanitarian access and the need for sustained international advocacy to support those who seek justice for the Palestinian people.
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