Authorities in eastern Libya detain a Spanish activist from a convoy carrying aid to Gaza

Eduardo González Authorities in eastern Libya have detained ten activists, including the Spanish national Alicia Armesto Núñez, while they were traveling in a convoy belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, as reported by the Global Sumud Flotilla on its website. According to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Spanish Embassy in Libya “is monitoring the case and will send the consul as soon as Libyan authorities allow it.” The activists were captured by the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) and the authorities of eastern Libya (Government of National Salvation) after crossing the 5+5 security zone in Sirte. They were traveling, “in good faith, to conduct peaceful negotiations on behalf of the convoy and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” according to the Sumud Global Flotilla, which has urged “governments around the world to demand their immediate release.” Among those detained are Spanish doctor Alicia Armesto Núñez, as well as a Polish citizen, an American citizen, two Argentinians, a Uruguayan citizen, a Portuguese citizen, a Tunisian citizen, and two Italians. According to the same source, the ten delegates volunteered to cross into the 5+5 security zone and negotiate the passage of the humanitarian mission. The last communication from the group was received at 3:22 p.m. local time on May 24, when a delegate reported that they were being transferred to three white vans. Since then, no direct contact has been established. Unofficial reports indicate that authorities in eastern Libya have alleged that the participants entered the area without authorization and are being processed for deportation. Prior to the delegation's entry, the convoy twice attempted to negotiate passage through the area. The first attempt was met with promises of a later meeting that never materialized, and the second ended with a military officer ordering the convoy delegates to leave immediately. “Given the ineffectiveness of official channels and internationally recognized processes, the convoy headed towards the border crossing to attempt direct negotiations in good faith,” the source stated, adding that “the delegates are unarmed civilians on a humanitarian mission” and that “their detention has no legal basis.” The Global Sumud Land Convoy departed on May 15, 2026 (Nakba Day) with seven ambulances, 20 mobile homes, ten humanitarian aid trucks, and more than 200 participants from over 25 countries, including medical professionals, engineers, educators, and legal observers. The objective of its mission is to deliver humanitarian aid, establish a solidarity corridor, and provide specialized support for the Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza's civilian infrastructure. “The Government of National Security (GNS), which exercises effective political control over eastern Libya, where the incident occurred, has the responsibility to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all participants and guarantee their safe return,” the Global Sumud Flotilla warned. “We urge the governments of Spain, Poland, the United States, Argentina, Uruguay, Portugal, Tunisia, and Italy to urgently contact the authorities in eastern Libya in Benghazi and demand the unconditional release of their nationals and a guarantee of safe passage for this humanitarian mission,” it concluded. Foreign Ministry sources have assured The Diplomat that “the Spanish embassy in Libya is following the case and will send the consul as soon as the Libyan authorities allow it to provide all the assistance that the affected Spanish woman may need.”

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