Libya Detains Italian Gaza Flotilla Activists for One Month

Ten members of the Global Sumud humanitarian convoy aimed at delivering aid to Gaza were seized by Libyan forces on 24 May. Activist Leonarda Alberizia, 67, recounted being taken from a checkpoint near Sirte, transferred to a secret detention centre and later moved to a prison in Benghazi, where she spent nearly a month in isolation cells without contact with lawyers or official information.

Italian senator Marco Croatti, a former graphic‑designer and member of the Five Star Movement, reflected on the broader political meaning of the flotilla. He said the mission sought to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to pressure international institutions, criticizing the limited impact of UN resolutions and the International Criminal Court. Croatti’s interview underscores the activism’s attempt to create a permanent aid corridor while drawing global attention to the conflict.