This morning, Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani spoke with Israeli Minister Gideon Sa’ar. The two Italian nationals who were detained overnight on board the Freedom Flotilla vessel have arrived at the port of Ashdod, where they will be assisted by staff from the Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Minister Sa’ar indicated that the procedure provides participants in the demonstration with two options: sign a declaration to proceed to the airport and leave the country immediately, or be detained in a local facility and deported within the next three days.
Tajani also discussed with Sa’ar the information received last night regarding the humanitarian pause in Gaza. He reiterated the importance of permanently halting military operations that could impact the Palestinian population. He further reiterated Italy’s call for the immediate and definitive opening of channels for the entry and sustained distribution of food and medical aid in the Gaza Strip, including supplies from the Italian initiative Food for Gaza.
Regarding the Freedom Flotilla, Tajani also updated the Mayor of Messina — the home city of one of the two Italian nationals involved — on the situation.
