The repatriation to Italy of 26 Italian nationals, who were members of the Flotilla, detained at sea in recent days by the Israeli armed forces is underway. This group agreed to sign the expulsion order and was therefore given fast-tracked departure procedures. Assisted by the Embassy of Italy in Tel Aviv, the group was transferred from Ketziot prison to Ramon air base, near Eilat.
Thanks to the personal intervention of Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, including with the Turkish authorities, the group will take a special Turkish Airlines flight scheduled to take off at approximately 2 p.m. (local time, 1 p.m. in Italy) for Istanbul. In Turkey, the Italian nationals will be assisted by a team from the Consulate General in Istanbul that is also ready to provide temporary travel documents to those who need them.
Fifteen Italian nationals have decided not to sign the expulsion order: the Israeli authorities will arrange for their forced expulsion through the courts during the course of next week.
The Foreign Ministry will provide further updates as soon as they are available.
