Sirte, Libya — Ten civilian participants from the Global Sumud Land Convoy have been detained by Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) & eastern Libyan authorities (Government of National Salvation) after crossing the 5+5 line near Sirte in good faith to conduct peaceful negotiations on behalf of the convoy and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Global Sumud Flotilla is calling on governments worldwide to demand their immediate release.
The detained participants, including two medical doctors, are: Alicia Armesto Nuñez (Spain), Laura Kwoczała (Poland), Jenelle Jones (USA), Dr. Maria Paula Giménez (Argentina), Dr. Lucas Ezequiel Aguilera (Argentina), Matias Alvarez Rodriguez (Uruguay), Ana Margarida França Santana Baptista (Portugal), Ashraf Khoja (Tunisia), Domenico Centrone (Italy), Leonarda Alberizia (Italy)
The ten delegates volunteered to cross into the 5+5 security zone to negotiate passage for the humanitarian mission. The final communication from the group was received at 3:22 pm local time on May 24, when one delegate reported that the group was being transferred into three white vans. No direct contact has been established since. Back-channel communications indicate that eastern Libyan authorities have alleged that the participants entered the zone without authorisation and are being processed for deportation.
The detention follows a pattern of failed coordination by eastern Libyan authorities. Prior to the delegation’s entry, the convoy had twice attempted formal negotiations: the first approach was met with a warm reception and promises of a follow-up meeting that never materialised; the second ended with a military official instructing convoy delegates to leave immediately. When official channels and internationally recognised processes proved ineffective, the convoy moved toward the crossing to attempt direct negotiations in good faith.
The delegates are unarmed civilians on a humanitarian mission. Their detention is without legal basis.
The Global Sumud Land Convoy launched on 15 May 2026 (Nakba Day), carrying 7 ambulances, 20 mobile homes, 10 aid trucks, and over 200 participants from more than 25 countries, including medical professionals, engineers, educators, and legal observers. Its mandate: deliver humanitarian aid, establish a solidarity corridor, and deploy specialist support for Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure.
The GNS, who exercise effective political control over eastern Libya, where the incident occurred, has a responsibility to secure the immediate and unconditional release of all participants and ensure their safe return.
We call on the governments of Spain, Poland, the United States, Argentina, Uruguay, Portugal, Tunisia, and Italy to urgently contact eastern Libyan authorities in Benghazi and demand the unconditional release of their nationals and the guarantee of safe passage for this humanitarian mission.
