Uruguayan detained in Libya while heading to Gaza has been released

Matías Álvarez Rodríguez, a 29-year-old Italian-Uruguayan citizen, has been freed after his detention in Libya. He was part of a land convoy organized by the international organization Global Sumud, heading towards Gaza, when he was held by Libyan authorities at the Sirte border in late May.

The Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced his release on Tuesday via the social media platform X. The ministry expressed satisfaction with the liberation and extended gratitude to the diplomatic services of both Italy and Uruguay for their crucial role in the negotiations that led to his freedom.

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With satisfaction, we announce the liberation of the Italian-Uruguayan citizen, Matías Álvarez Rodríguez, participant of the flotilla, who had been detained in Libya. We thank the diplomatic services of Italy and Uruguay, who were involved in the efforts made.

Rodríguez was detained along with nine other activists from the Global Sumud organization. Among those held were Laura Kwoczala from Poland, Jenelle Jones from the United States, Argentinians María Paula Giménez and Lucas Ezequiel Aguilera, Ana Margarida França Santana Baptista from Portugal, Ashraf Joya from Tunisia, Alicia Armesto Núñez from Spain, and Italians Domenico Centrone and Leonarda Alberizia.

In a video released at the time of their detention, Álvarez Rodríguez explained that the convoy was a humanitarian mission. He stated that they were detained or "kidnapped" while participating in the international land caravan destined for Gaza. The circumstances of their detention and the specific reasons cited by Libyan authorities remain unclear.

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detained or kidnapped while participating in the international land caravan with destination Gaza