Wael Naouar, a Gaza solidarity activist, has been admitted to a hospital following a 39-day hunger strike launched to protest his ongoing detention in Tunisia. Bassem Trifi, head of the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LTDH), described Naouar’s condition as critical, stating he is on the verge of death. His lawyer reports that the activist has shed over 20 kilograms, roughly 44 pounds, and is suffering from systemic body pain, while associates note he has recently endured hallucinations, fainting spells, and respiratory difficulties.
Naouar is one of four activists, including Ghassen Henchiri, Ghassen Boughdiri, and Nabil Channoufi, detained since March. They face accusations of misusing funds intended for the Global Sumud Flotilla, an initiative organized to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza. The group had previously been intercepted by Israeli forces while attempting to reach Gaza, which resulted in their deportation to Tunisia. Despite these ongoing investigations regarding alleged suspicious financial flows, none of the four individuals have been convicted of any crime.
The Gaza Sumud Flotilla organization stated via social media that Tunisian authorities have barred his legal representatives and family members from accessing information about his status. This development follows a judge’s recent rejection of an appeal against the extended pre-trial detention of the four activists. While a prison spokesperson has yet to comment on the case, a protest in support of the detainees held last Saturday saw at least 11 participants arrested by local authorities.
Human Rights Watch has previously alleged that the Tunisian government is weaponizing financial and criminal investigations to target civil society members. Conversely, the administration maintains that the judiciary operates independently and that legal proceedings are not politically motivated. President Kais Saied has publicly asserted that the state guarantees essential freedoms and that no individual stands above the law, even as concerns mount over the health of those currently held in custody. The report also notes that the hunger striker has demanded that authorities drop charges of financial misconduct against him and three other activists. The report also notes that “This comes right after a judge REJECTED the appeal against the extension of the Sumud 4’s pre-trial detention,” read the statement, which added that the activist was on day 39 of his hunger strike. The report also notes that according to his lawyer, the pro-Palestinian activist had lost more than 20kg (44lb) and was suffering from pain throughout his body. The report also notes that “There is now a real danger threatening him,” Bouaazi said on the sidelines of Saturday’s protest.
