TUNIS, Tunisia — Several pro-Palestinian organizers were taken into custody by Tunisian police on Friday amid growing tensions surrounding plans for a new humanitarian aid mission to Gaza, according to activist groups.
Local media outlets in Tunisia reported that the country’s National Guard financial crimes division launched an investigation into possible money laundering, fraud, and improper handling of donated funds raised for the flotilla effort.
The investigation is reportedly focused on multiple leaders and committee members involved in steering the flotilla project, with some individuals being held while officials examine how donation money was collected and managed. Tunisian government officials have not issued any public statements regarding the arrests.
Among those detained were Wael Naouar, Jawaher Channa, and Nabil Channoufi, all connected to the Global Sumud Flotilla’s leadership team and its Tunisian organizing branch, activists confirmed. The arrested individuals have not made any public comments.
Flotilla organizers have condemned the arrests as an attack on Palestinian solidarity efforts and are demanding the immediate freedom of those in custody.
The arrests came after multiple days of interference with flotilla-related activities in Tunis as groups prepared for a new civilian maritime mission aimed at reaching Gaza. Israeli forces stopped similar vessels and arrested participants during a comparable flotilla attempt in the previous year.
United Nations officials report that hundreds of thousands of supply pallets have accumulated at Gaza border crossings since an October ceasefire took effect. However, Israeli authorities have barred more than two dozen aid organizations from Gaza operations due to non-compliance with updated registration requirements, leaving Gaza’s 2 million Palestinian residents still facing severe humanitarian conditions.
The planned flotilla is designed to carry over 1,000 participants, including medical professionals, war crimes researchers, and engineers, organizers stated. A coordinated land convoy is also planned that could involve thousands of additional supporters. The vessels are scheduled to depart from ports in Spain, Tunisia, and Italy.
Officials prohibited a Thursday gathering in Tunis that was set to welcome international activists, including Brazilian advocate Thiago Ávila, Swedish environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg, and Palestinian organizer Seif Abu Koshk from the Global March to Gaza.
Ávila’s representatives posted on Facebook that he was also detained Friday at Brussels Airport while traveling from Tunis to Amsterdam for a Hague Group meeting, an alliance of nations committed to legal and diplomatic efforts supporting international law.
Security personnel also blocked a ceremony earlier this week at Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said port that was meant to recognize dock workers who had assisted with last year’s flotilla mission, activists reported.
Before Friday’s detentions occurred, the Tunisian section of the flotilla’s organizing committee had announced plans for a Saturday evening demonstration in Tunis supporting Iran following combined military strikes by the United States and Israel.
