Gaza flotilla activist on hunger strike in Tunisia jail ‘on verge of death’

Gaza solidarity activist Wael Naouar has been admitted to hospital more than a month after launching a hunger strike to protest his detention in Tunisia, according to the Gaza Sumud Flotilla organisation to which he belongs.

Bassem Trifi, the head of the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human ⁠⁠Rights (LTDH), on Wednesday said Naouar was “in a very critical health condition and on the ⁠⁠verge of death”.

A prison spokesperson did not immediately comment on Naouar’s case and condition. The hunger striker has demanded that authorities drop charges of financial misconduct against him and three other activists.

The four, including Ghassen Henchiri, Ghassen Boughdiri and Nabil Channoufi, were arrested in March after being accused of misusing funds raised for the Global Sumud Flotilla , an international campaign seeking to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza. They remain in pre-trial detention.

“Wael Naouar is in hospital, and Tunisian authorities are refusing to disclose any information with his family or lawyers”, the Gaza Sumud Flotilla said in a statement on X.

“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 pro-Palestinian activist had lost more than 20kg (44lb) and was suffering from pain throughout his body, according to his lawyer.

None of the activists have been convicted of an offence, but remain under investigation over alleged “suspicious financial flows”.