Italian foreign minister says detained Italians in West Bank ‘did nothing,’ calls for their return

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Friday that Italians detained by Israeli authorities in the occupied West Bank had “done nothing,” calling for their return to Italy, ANSA reported. “We are following the case. They did nothing, they were just there carrying out agricultural activities, harvesting olives. We hope they can be sent back to Italy as soon as possible,” Tajani said. The detainees were among 14 international volunteers arrested near Kafr Ni’ma, about 23 kilometers (14 miles) from Ramallah, while helping Palestinians with the olive harvest.

Among the Italians was Giorgia Lombardi, a city councilor in La Spezia and a member of the National Council of Europa Verde. Angelo Bonelli, a lawmaker from the Green and Left Alliance and co-spokesperson for Europa Verde, said the volunteers had been attacked after Palestinian farmers were assaulted by Israeli occupiers. He alleged that Israeli forces subsequently detained the volunteers and confiscated their passports. Bonelli called on Italy’s Foreign Ministry and diplomatic representatives to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and release of the Italian citizens and other volunteers.