A Brazilian activist has issued a public appeal for the release of four colleagues currently detained in Tunisia. The individuals—Nabil Channoufi, Ghassan Henchiri, Ghassan Boughdiri, and Wael Naouar—were key organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international initiative aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza by challenging the long-standing Israeli blockade.
The four men were initially part of a multinational effort launched in August 2025, which saw dozens of boats attempt to transport life-saving supplies to the enclave. Following their interception and detention by Israeli authorities, they were released and returned to Tunisia in October 2025. However, fellow activists report that Tunisian “counterterrorism” police rearrested the group in February 2026, shortly after they announced plans for a new aid mission.
In a video message posted on social media this Tuesday, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila highlighted the plight of his colleagues, noting that they have been held in Tunis’s Mornaguia Prison for over five months. “It’s been so long, my dear friends,” Avila said, addressing the detainees. “I’m writing to you this letter after 170 days since you’ve been arrested while mobilising solidarity with Palestine through our peaceful mission of the Global Sumud Flotilla to break the illegal siege of Gaza.”
Legal proceedings against the group appear linked to allegations of financial misconduct. In March, reports indicated that the Tunisian National Guard’s financial crimes unit had detained the activists on accusations of money laundering, fraud, and the misuse of donations collected for the flotilla campaign. To date, the Tunisian government has provided no public comment regarding the ongoing detention.
Avila expressed deep concern over the health of Wael Naouar, stating that he has been on a hunger strike for at least seven days. “You’ve been fainting, throwing up blood, and with a critical medical condition,” Avila stated, drawing a parallel to a previous hunger strike he and Naouar undertook while held in Israeli custody last year. He argued that no one should be separated from their family for participating in solidarity efforts for victims of the ongoing conflict.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international network active since 2010, has frequently utilized the port of Sidi Bou Said in northern Tunisia to organize its missions. Beyond the arrests, activists have accused the Tunisian government of actively obstructing their work by banning gatherings and events related to the flotilla movement. Organizers also launched a separate mission this year that was intercepted by Israeli forces in April.
The broader context for these missions remains the air, land, and sea blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza since 2007, following Hamas’s assumption of control. This blockade was significantly intensified in October 2023, following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel and the subsequent war in the region. The report also notes that launching the flotilla in August 2025, to carry life-saving supplies to Gaza, activists from multiple countries around the world boarded dozens of boats. The report also notes that tunisia’s government has not publicly commented on the situation.
