Global Sumud activists freed after Libya detention

Ten members of the pro‑Palestinian Global Sumud flotilla were released in Libya on 23 June, ending weeks of uncertainty for their families. Among them was Spanish activist Alicia, who is scheduled to return to Madrid on 24 June via Turkish Airlines flight TK1359. The platform announced a welcome gathering at Adolfo Suárez Madrid‑Barajas airport.

Four additional activists – Achraf Khoja (Tunisia), Matías Rodríguez (Uruguay/Italy), Domenico Centrone and Leonarda Alberizia (both Italy) – were also freed, with six others expected to be released within 24 hours. Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani confirmed the Italians would be handed to the Italian consul in Benghazi before returning home. The releases follow the detention of over 400 activists in May, who had attempted to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza through Libya and Egypt, and were held by forces linked to Libya’s eastern authorities.

Amnesty International reported that the activists were initially seized after a forced disappearance period and charged with “unauthorised gathering”.