Tunisia arrests pro-Palestine activist over 'terrorism' charges

In Tunisia, authorities have arrested a pro-Palestine activist on "terrorism" charges after he called for the "elimination" of Israel's diplomatic envoys as its deadly wars on Gaza and Lebanon rage on, bolstered by US weapons.

On Monday, 14 October, Tunisian activist Ghassen Boughdiri appeared in court in Beja, Tunis, regarding a Facebook post he published last month in support of Palestinian resistance. 

"Eliminating the enemy's ambassadors is a national duty to the resistance," Boughdiri wrote on 28 September.

He was detained on Monday, with his case referred to the anti-terrorism judicial authority. He was released the same day, though investigations into his case are ongoing.

Several members of pro-Palestine groups in Tunisia have rallied behind Boughdiri, arguing that targeting those complicit with Israel is part of the legitimate resistance to Tel Aviv's year-long genocide in Gaza and its current war on Lebanon.

"If our support for the resistance makes us terrorists, then so be it", said Wael Nawar, a member of the Tunisian Coordination for Joint Action for Palestine.

"We just want the state to have the courage to classify themselves as agents of the Zionist enemy," added Nawar, another pro-Palestine activist facing court.

Crackdown on pro-Palestine groups

Following President Kais Saied's re-election, police have intensified their crackdown on pro-Palestine groups, arresting at least five activists since 7 October—three of whom are being investigated on terrorism charges.

The pro-Palestine group protested on 7 October the state's failure to take a firm stance against the embassies and interests of countries supporting the genocide in Gaza, urging the criminalisation of normalisation with Israel. 

President Saied, despite his public support for Palestine, has stalled legislation to criminalise normalisation with Israel, citing concerns over Tunisia's "security and interests."

During the protest, police blocked demonstrators from approaching the French embassy, a symbol of colonialism and complicity in decades of Israeli aggression against Palestinians.

Protesters attempted to break through the security barrier authorities had set up on Bourguiba Street, throwing water bottles at the officers.

The next day, the Interior Ministry issued a statement condemning the violence of the pro-Palestine groups, claiming several police officers were injured during the "Al-Aqsa Flood"  protest which marked the first anniversary of the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Police have also threatened to ban protests on Bourguiba Street—once hosted demonstrations that helped topple the Ben Ali regime.

Bourguiba Street is also situated only a few kilometres away from Hammam Chott, a coastal suburb of Tunis, where the Israeli Air Force bombed the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) headquarters on 1 October 1985. The attack killed at least 60 people, including PLO members, women and children.

Today, the Tunisian Coordination for Joint Action for Palestine defends its members' right to stand with Palestinian resistance, condemning the state's "fear of any anti-Zionist discourse" and the shrinking freedom of speech in the country.

"We are the people of the field, and what cannot be achieved through protests will be achieved through even more protests", declared the pro-Palestine group, which plans to return to the streets today, Tuesday, 15 October.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed 42,344 people and injured a further 99,013, while its bombardment of Lebanon has killed 2,309 people and injured at least 10,782. 

The United States has provided Israel with billions of dollars worth of weapons and security assistance over the past year. In addition, the Biden administration has deployed the US military in direct support of Israel, according to the Washington Post.