Arrested by the Israeli army during the mission of the Handala ship, Hatem Laâouini was released after five days of detention. It is now safe in Jordan.
Hatem Laâouini, Tunisian activist committed to the Palestinian cause, was released from the Israeli Ramleh prison. He left the occupied territories and joined Jordan where he was welcomed by the Tunisia Embassy in Amman as well as by several Jordanian activists. The information was confirmed by his lawyer, Me Najet Hadriche, and by Ezdine Boughanmi, one of his relatives.
Wave of relief
In a moving message published Thursday July 31 on Facebook, Me Hadriche praised “the strength of the one who brought a cause in silence and a country in patience”. She said that Hatem’s voice “continues to resonate for freedom, truth, Palestine”.
His return sparked a wave of relief among the defenders of the Palestinian cause and Tunisian human rights activists.
Hunger detention and strike
Hatem Laâouini had been arrested with 16 other activists aboard the Handala ship, engaged in a humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the blockade of Gaza.
Refusing to sign an expulsion order, he had started a hunger strike in detention. His release comes after five days of diplomatic pressure and militant mobilization.
