Italy on Thursday called for the immediate release of Italian nationals on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla raided by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece.
ROME: Italy “condemns the seizure of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels… and calls on Israel to immediately release all the unlawfully detained Italians”, the government said in a statement.
Israel said it had arrested around 175 activists from more than 20 boats taking part in the flotilla.
Organisers said 211 activists had been “kidnapped” by Israel.
Italy’s ANSA news agency cited sources among the organisers saying 24 Italians had been detained.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with her foreign and defence ministers earlier on Thursday to discuss the Israeli operation.
In its statement, the government also called for the “full respect of international law and guarantees on the physical safety of the people on board”.
It said it was “committed to continue supplying humanitarian aid to Gaza in the framework of our cooperation and in respect of international law”.
