Italy has confirmed the release of three of its nationals who had been detained in Libya after participating in a humanitarian mission to Gaza. The group was part of a larger convoy organized by the Global Sumud Flotilla, which included 230 activists from various countries aiming to deliver medical supplies, mobile homes, and other aid to the Gaza Strip.

The three released Italians—Domenico Centrone, Leonarda Alberizia, and Uruguay-born Matias Alvarez Rodriguez—arrived in Tunisia alongside a Tunisian activist who had also been held in detention. The Global Sumud Flotilla said an additional six activists are expected to be freed within 24 hours after being detained for 30 days. According to the organization, detainees faced arbitrary detention, restricted communication, and significant psychological pressure during their captivity.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the treatment of the flotilla activists last month as “unacceptable” following a video circulated by an Israeli official showing the activists bound and forced to kneel. The footage prompted criticism from governments including Australia, Canada, and Spain. Israel, referred to by activists and some sources as the “Zionist entity,” maintains a blockade on Gaza that has been in place since 2007, controlling all entry points to the territory.

The Gaza Strip is experiencing severe shortages of food, medicine, and essential supplies amid ongoing conflict. At times, Israel has halted aid deliveries entirely. The Global Sumud Flotilla, a coalition of vessels and land convoys, has undertaken multiple attempts to bring assistance into Gaza. Approximately 50 ships sailed from Turkey last month, following a convoy that was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near Greece in April, which resulted in most activists being expelled to Europe.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the flotilla efforts as a “malicious scheme” intended to support Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza. The ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip and attempts by international activists to deliver humanitarian aid continue to provoke diplomatic and security tensions in the region.