DaysofPal- Tunisian authorities have detained several activists involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla, an initiative seeking to challenge the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, organizers said on Sunday.
The Tunisian Committee of Sumud, which is part of the international coalition behind the flotilla, reported that security forces arrested members from its global, Maghreb, and local Tunisian branches after they participated in peaceful activities supporting efforts to lift the blockade on Gaza.
Those detained include Sana Al-Masahli, Nabil Al-Shanoufi, Wael Nawar, Jawaher Shanna, and Dr. Mohammed Balnour.
According to the committee, the activists were taken to the National Guard headquarters in El Aouina, near the capital, Tunis, and contact was lost since then.
In a statement, the committee accused authorities of earlier raiding the home of activists Nawar and Shanna, alleging that the operation frightened their children and caused damage to household belongings.
It described the arrests as part of broader restrictions placed on the activities of the international flotilla movement in Tunisia.
Organizers said tensions began after authorities declined to authorize the use of the port of Sidi Bou Said as the departure point for the planned “Steadfastness Flotilla 2.”
They also said activists, including international participants, were prevented from gathering at the port to honor its workers. Meanwhile, a scheduled cultural event and press conference at Rio Hall in Tunis was also blocked.
The Tunisian committee condemned the detentions as unlawful and called for the immediate release of those arrested.
It argued that preventing the flotilla from operating in Tunisian ports undermines the right of citizens to express solidarity with Palestinians.
Civil society groups also voiced concern. The Campaign Against the Criminalization of Civil Action said the charges reportedly brought against the activists appear to be financial in nature and warned that the move reflects a recurring pattern of targeting human rights defenders and activists.
Meanwhile, the Coordination for Joint Action for Palestine criticized the arrests as unexpected, noting that Tunisian authorities had previously expressed support for the Palestinian cause. The group urged officials to free the detainees and halt legal proceedings against participants in the flotilla initiative.
The National Committee for Supporting the Palestinian Resistance also denounced the arrests of Nawar and Shanna, saying they followed organized campaigns of incitement and defamation. It warned that the detentions could signal a broader attempt to curb public expressions of solidarity with Palestine in Tunisia.
The flotilla effort follows a previous mission in August 2025, when several ships set sail as part of “Steadfastness Flotilla 1” in an attempt to reach Gaza. Israeli naval forces intercepted the vessels, and more than 400 activists from over 40 countries on board were deported.
Organizers later announced plans for a second mission, “Steadfastness Flotilla 2,” scheduled to depart on April 12, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to challenge the blockade on Gaza.
Political writer and activist Dr. Ali Abu Rizq described the arrests as “deeply regrettable,” saying in a social media post that Tunisian authorities had detained some activists and threatened others who were expected to participate in the flotilla.
“It is unclear whether the decision resulted from American pressure or reflects a change in Tunisian policy,” he wrote, adding that if Tunisia ultimately blocks the flotilla’s departure, it may become difficult for the initiative to launch from another Arab country.
Political analyst Ziad Al-Aloul said the Palestinian issue continues to demand international attention, particularly since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. He noted that global solidarity with Palestinians over the past two years has strengthened awareness of their situation worldwide.
Although a ceasefire agreement was reached in October 2025, Al-Aloul said Israel continues military operations and maintains a tight land, sea, and air blockade on Gaza, where more than 2.3 million Palestinians live.
According to Al-Aloul, ending the blockade remains a key objective for organizations and movements supporting the Palestinian cause.
Despite a slowdown after the ceasefire, he said international solidarity with Gaza continues through political, humanitarian, media, and grassroots initiatives worldwide.
He added that growing global mobilization around the Palestinian issue represents the expanding international movement aimed at drawing attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the continuing blockade.
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