The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, has been in contact with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, regarding assistance for Italian citizens on board the Flotilla who have been detained by the Israeli Navy.
The entire crew of the vessels will be transferred to the port of Ashdod and held in designated facilities. The members of the Flotilla will be given two options: to accept immediate voluntary expulsion, to be carried out as swiftly as possible; or to refuse immediate expulsion, thereby accepting detention in prison pending forced repatriation. In this case, members of the Flotilla will have to await the deportation order issued by the judicial authorities, which is generally pronounced within 48 to 72 hours.
The Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv is following the case with the utmost attention and has already prepared a programme of consular assistance.
