Israel detains Italian activists in West Bank, Farnesina seeks release before expulsion

The detention

Israeli authorities detained 14 international volunteers near Kafr Ni'ma, a village 23 kilometres from Ramallah in the West Bank, while they were helping Palestinians with the olive harvest, according to Angelo Bonelli of Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra. Among those held is Giorgia Lombardi, a female city councillor in La Spezia and a member of the national council of Europa Verde. Bonelli and fellow MEP Benedetta Scuderi said settlers had beaten Palestinians and attacked the volunteers, and that soldiers and police then arrested the volunteers instead of the settlers and took their passports.

The Farnesina said in a note that it is working to secure the release of several Italian activists detained on 6 November near the village. It reported that the group includes four Italian activists and two Italian journalists, although the exact number and identities are still being checked. The detainees are being held at the Modi'in Illit police station.

Diplomatic response

Italy's embassy in Tel Aviv and its consulate general in Jerusalem have approached Israeli authorities. They asked for the immediate release of the Italians, clarification of the circumstances of the detentions and the necessary consular assistance. ANSA had initially reported 14 Italians among those held, a figure now superseded by the Farnesina's count, which remains under verification.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed the case on 6 November on the sidelines of a Forza Italia event on garantismo, the principle of protecting legal rights and due process.

“They did nothing wrong. They were simply there doing agricultural work, harvesting olives.”

Tajani said he hopes the group can return to Italy as soon as possible.

International volunteers detained (Bonelli)14

Italian activists (Farnesina)4

Italian journalists (Farnesina)2

International volunteers detained (Bonelli)

14 people

Italian activists (Farnesina)

4 people

Italian journalists (Farnesina)

2 people

Data from the article text

Political reactions

Brando Benifei, a Democratic Party MEP, called the arrest unacceptable and urged the Farnesina and Tajani to intervene immediately. He said he is in contact with the office of EU High Representative Kaja Kallas to monitor developments and check that the authorities are working to secure the detainees' release.

Angelo Bonelli also called on the foreign ministry to act, condemning the arrests in strong terms.

“This is yet another unacceptable act of violence stemming from the policies of Netanyahu's criminal government.”

La Spezia mayor Pierluigi Peracchini said he had learned of the situation with deep concern. He stressed that party affiliations counted for little in the face of solidarity, and described Lombardi as a fellow citizen and an integral part of the local community.

What happens next

The group is scheduled to be moved on the morning of 7 November to a facility at Ben Gurion Airport used to hold foreign nationals awaiting repatriation. Expulsion procedures will follow on the first available flights. ANSA describes this as the third such incident in two weeks, after two earlier groups of five activists each were deported to Italy following similar detentions while trying to shield Palestinians from settler violence. The final number of Italians and their identities remain to be confirmed.