Italian Foreign Ministry calls for deportation of Gaza flotilla activists

Published on 04/10/2025 - 14:46 GMT+2

Italy's Foreign Ministry has called connected Israel to velocity up the deportation process for Italian activists detained successful Israel aft they were intercepted arsenic portion of boats sailing successful a flotilla carrying assistance to Gaza.

At slightest 4 Italian parliamentarians travelling arsenic portion of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) person already been deported. More than 470 radical — of assorted nationalities — were detained successful total, Israeli constabulary said.

On Saturday morning, the Italian Foreign Ministry said members of its embassy successful Israel had visited the activists who are "well, adjacent if they are bushed by a period spent astatine oversea and by the 2 days of profound accent coinciding with the subject cognition against the boats."

"The consular squad reported that the detention conditions successful the situation are peculiarly uncomfortable," a connection from the overseas ministry said. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has requested an inspection and betterment of detention conditions.

Italy is moving to velocity up the deportation process, which volition beryllium peculiarly accelerated "for those compatriots who person decided to motion the deportation bid projected by the Israeli authorities."

The flotilla's interception sparked protests astir the world, including a one-day wide onslaught successful Italy that delayed hundreds of trains, respective home flights and shuttered schools.

'Provocation'

The detentions travel arsenic the past vessel of the GSF convoy, the Marienette, was intercepted by Israeli authorities connected Friday.

The Marinette had been trailing down the remainder of the vessels and was inactive sailing connected to the Palestinian territory successful the aboriginal hours of Friday, a time aft the Israeli navy stormed 41 different boats and detained the activists, saying they would beryllium deported.

A livestream from the Marinette showed the infinitesimal Israeli troops boarded the vessel.

Israel's Foreign Ministry has called the flotilla's actions a "provocation" and argued that the flotilla was attempting to "enter an progressive combat zone" and breach a "lawful naval blockade."

The ministry said “all the passengers are harmless and successful bully health. They are making their mode safely to Israel, from wherever they volition beryllium deported to Europe.”

The activists person said the boats' interception was amerciable and alleged they person been treated poorly by Israeli authorities.

Portuguese activistic Mariana Mortágua allegedly sent a connection to her household saying that she was held without nutrient for 48 hours. According to section media, the Portuguese consul successful Israel visited the 4 activists held and confirmed they were "'in bully health, contempt the hard and harsh conditions upon accomplishment astatine the larboard of Ashdod and successful the detention centre."

Three Polish citizens who were taking portion successful the flotilla person been offered an accelerated process to permission Israel and instrumentality to Poland. They reportedly refused to motion a declaration amounting to they voluntary expulsion from Israel.