Tunisia Extends Detention of Pro-Palestinian Flotilla Organizers Amid Hunger Strike

A Tunisian court has extended the pre-trial detention of four organizers of the "Sumud" pro-Palestinian flotilla by four months. Wael Nawar, Nabil Shennoufi, Ghassan Henchiri, and Ghassan Boudghiri have been held in Mornaguia prison since March. The investigation centers on the financial activities of the organizers of the anti-Israel campaign, with the detainees suspected of money laundering, fraud, and mishandling donated funds. The decision was made on September 11 by an investigating judge at Tunisia's Economic and Financial Judicial Pole. As of September 18, all four remained on a hunger strike, which began on August 16 with Nawara. He has reportedly lost approximately 19 kilograms, required hospitalization, and is experiencing serious health issues. Three other detainees joined the hunger strike on September 10. The organizers and their lawyers assert that Nawara has been on strike for 33 days and the others for eight. In response to the detentions, Tunisian unions, the bar association, and human rights organizations are preparing a demonstration demanding the activists' release. This situation is notable given Tunisia's official support for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and the current calls from Tunisian civil society groups for the activists' freedom. Despite this, the authorities are pursuing a criminal investigation into their activities related to the Gaza support campaign. Defense lawyers and supporters of "Sumud" claim the case is politically motivated and deny the accusations, while authorities officially cite alleged financial irregularities, including suspicious money flows and potential misuse of donations. The four were arrested after participating in the organization of "Global Sumud Flotilla" events. Nawara, who coordinated a land convoy intended to join the maritime mission, was among those detained in March. While some other activists initially arrested have since been released, these four now face up to four additional months in custody. The ongoing hunger strike is transforming the financial investigation into a broader political and human rights issue for Tunisia, highlighting the irony of activists seeking aid for Gaza now needing help themselves from within a Tunisian prison.