Italy confirms release of activists detained in Libya as Global Sumud Flotilla awaits further releases
Four pro-Palestinian activists have arrived in Tunis after being detained for approximately a month in Libya, with Italy’s Foreign Minister confirming the handover of three nationals. The Global Sumud Flotilla organisation states that six additional detainees are expected to be released within 24 hours.
Four pro-Palestinian campaigners detained in Libya for approximately a month have been released and arrived in Tunis, according to the Global Sumud Flotilla group. The released individuals are Achraf Khoja from Tunisia, Matias Rodriguez from Uruguay, and Domenico Centrone and Leonarda Alberizia from Italy.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that the two Italian nationals and Rodriguez, who holds Italian citizenship, were handed over to Italy’s consul in Benghazi. Tajani stated on X that the trio would return to Italy on Wednesday, marking a significant diplomatic development in the case.
The organisation stated that six other activists are expected to be released within the next 24 hours. The detained group, comprising ten activists from eight countries, had attempted to reach Gaza by land and staged a hunger strike during their detention.
They were arrested on May 24, 2026, by an armed group affiliated with Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) while en route to Sirte. The activists were seeking approval from local authorities for their convoy to continue through Libya and Egypt to reach Gaza.
Amnesty International reported that the activists faced enforced disappearance for two to nine days before being interrogated and placed in pretrial detention on charges of ‘assembly without authorization’. This event is distinct from the more than 400 activists arrested at sea last month while attempting to break the siege on Gaza by sea.
The Global Sumud Flotilla highlighted that the land-based group had been seeking to negotiate the convoy’s passage with local authorities in Sirte. The release of the first four individuals represents the initial phase of resolving the detention of the ten activists, with the remaining six expected to follow shortly.
Italy’s involvement underscores the international dimension of the detention, with the Foreign Minister actively facilitating the repatriation of its citizens. The situation remains fluid as the Global Sumud Flotilla monitors the status of the remaining detainees, whose release is projected but not yet confirmed by independent sources.
