TUNIS, 08 March. - (ANA) - Tunisian counter-terrorism police on Friday arrested five organisers of a flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists aiming to sail for Gaza this spring, campaigners said.

 

It was unclear why the five members -- all Tunisian -- were arrested, with the Global Sumud Flotilla group asking for "immediate clarifications".

 

The campaigners sought to break an Israeli blockade by delivering aid to Gaza by sea in October. In February, they announced a new mission to the besieged territory from countries including Tunisia.

 

The group "strongly condemns the arrest today of local Tunisian GSF organisers," the campaigners said in a statement.

 

Tunisian media outlets reported that authorities were probing the activists on money laundering and an alleged misuse of donated funds for the flotilla.

 

Tunisian authorities have yet to confirm the activists' arrests.

 

Those arrested were Nabil Channoufi, Wael Naouar, Sana Msahli, Jawaher Channa, and Mohamed Amin Bannour, the group said.

 

The arrests, "together with the repeated shutdowns of lawful gatherings", marked a "troubling departure from Tunisia's long history of public solidarity with the Palestinian people", the statement added.

 

A gathering aimed to be held on Thursday in preparation for the next mission was "also cancelled by authorities just moments before it was set to begin", the group said.

 

And earlier this week, organisers said they were "violently blocked" by the police from reaching the Sidi Bou Said port, one of the main ports they had set sail from last year.

 

Last year the campaigners said the flotilla was attacked by two drones while anchored at the Sidi Bou Said port.

 

The port lies about two kilometres (1.2 miles) away from the Tunisian presidential palace in Carthage, which can be seen from its harbour.

 

The Global Sumud Flotilla describes its actions as a "non-violent response to genocide, siege, mass starvation, and the destruction of civilian life in Gaza".

 

Before reaching Gaza last year, the flotilla was intercepted by Israel, which seized their boats before detaining then deporting the activists.   - (ANA) - 

 

AB/ANA/08 March 2026 - - -