In brief
Israeli authorities confirmed the presence of four Italian citizens at a police station after the IDF detained them on Thursday, 22 October, in al-Bweib.
The Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Consulate General in Jerusalem asked Israeli authorities for urgent clarification on the circumstances of the detention and the women's situation.
About 80 international activists were stopped near Nahalin on Wednesday, 21 October, and a father and son from Bolzano were expelled after being held for more than a day.
- 21 OctAbout 80 international activists, including US, British and Israeli citizens, stopped near Nahalin during the olive harvest
- 22 OctFour Italian women detained in al-Bweib while accompanying Palestinian farmers, now held at a police station
Detention in al-Bweib
Israeli forces detained four Italian women on Thursday, 22 October, in the village of al-Bweib, south of Hebron in the West Bank. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stopped them together with other international activists while they were accompanying Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest. The Farnesina, Italy's foreign ministry, said the women were stopped on Thursday and that Israeli authorities have confirmed they are being held at a police station. The ministry's statements do not give the reasons for the detention or name the four women. Reports on the operation said its circumstances and the grounds for the stop had not yet been clarified, and it remained unclear whether the women would be released within hours.
Rome requests clarification
As soon as it learned of the incident, Italy's embassy in Tel Aviv and its consulate general in Jerusalem contacted Israeli authorities. They asked for urgent clarification about the circumstances of the detention and the women's situation. The ministry said it had already obtained confirmation of where the women are being held. The Farnesina's statement set out its position in a short line:
“The Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Consulate General in Jerusalem are following the matter in constant contact with the Israeli authorities.”
The embassy and consulate are working in close coordination with the Farnesina, with the aim of securing a prompt resolution of the case.
Earlier detentions in the area
The case follows a series of detentions of foreign nationals in the same area. On Wednesday, 21 October, about 80 international activists, including citizens of the United States, Britain and Israel, were stopped by soldiers near Nahalin while taking part in the olive harvest. Before that, two Italians from Bolzano, a father and his son, were held for more than a day by Israeli authorities and then expelled with a ten-year entry ban. The timeline below sets the Wednesday and Thursday detentions side by side.
Open questions
The ministry has not stated the reasons for the detention of the four women, and it has not identified them. Israeli authorities have confirmed only their location at a police station. Italian diplomats remain in contact with Israeli authorities, and the sources do not report any release.