10 humanitarian Gaza volunteers abducted in Libya to be held another month

The Libyan abductors of ten Global Sumud land convoy volunteers kidnapped on 24 May 2026 have extended their illegal captivity for another thirty days. The ten were abducted near Sirte despite having previously agree safe passage with aid bound for Gaza. The extension is the second imposed on them by Libya’s Internal Security Agency (ISA).

Organisers have described the “political hostage taking” as outrageous and a “blatant attack on international solidarity with Palestine”. The group is demanding action from the volunteers’ governments and others to pressure the ISA into freeing the captives. The ISA has released footage showing the victims being transferred after the extension:

Gaza — Widespread repression

The abductions form part of a wider — and accelerating — criminalisation of Palestinian solidarity and global resistance to Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Supporters are asked urgently to:

Pressure officials to act NOW to secure the safe release of these citizens of Spain, Poland, the United States, Argentina, Uruguay, Portugal, Tunisia, and Italy.

Mahmoud Shalaby, regional researcher at human rights organisation Amnesty International said:

At a time when Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are grappling with Israel’s ongoing genocide and catastrophic humanitarian conditions, it is utterly disgraceful that individuals seeking to deliver humanitarian assistance and end Israel’s unlawful blockade have been met with arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and prosecution on bogus charges in Libya.

No one should be punished for undertaking peaceful humanitarian action and trying to stop human rights abuses. The Libyan Arab Armed Forces must ensure the immediate and unconditional release of the activists, and in the meantime ensure that they have prompt and regular access to their families, consular representatives, lawyers and any medical care they require.

The abductees’ home nations are Argentina, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, Uruguay and USA.

Featured image via GlobalSumud