Italy calls for release of five activists held by Israel in West Bank

MILAN, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Italy has called for the immediate release of ​five Italian activists, all women, ‌held by Israeli forces in the West Bank, Foreign Minister Antonio ​Tajani said on Friday. Italian ​foreign ministry sources said the women ⁠were detained on Thursday ​by Israeli police in Kiryat Arba ​along with other international activists, while seeking to protect Palestinian farmers during ​the olive harvest. Sign up here. Israeli activists sit next to members of the Israeli forces on guard, as they prepare to pick olives during the harvest season at Palestinian-owned olive groves in Deir Abu Mashal, near... Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab Read more "What happened is ​unacceptable, they were not committing any crime," ‌Tajani ⁠told reporters on the sidelines of an international summit in Istanbul, adding he hoped they ​would ​be released ⁠in a matter of hours. The women were expected ​to be transferred to ​Israel's ⁠immigration authority on Friday pending expulsion and repatriation procedures, Israeli ⁠authorities ​told Italian diplomats ​earlier in the day, according to the ​sources. Claudia Cristoferi, editing by Gavin Jones Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Suggested Topics: World X Facebook Linkedin Email Link Purchase Licensing Rights