Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has issued a scathing condemnation of the Israeli government, particularly of Israeli Interior Minister Ben Gvir after the latter published a video in which the Israeli police are seen humiliating and manhandling Italian activists of the Gaza Sumud Flotilla flotilla.
Up to 29 Italian citizens have been arrested by Israel including Cinque Stelle MP Dario Carotenuto. Other activists who have been arrested include Dr Margaret Connolly, the sister of the Irish President Catherine Connolly. they were arrested in international waters around 250 nautical miles outside Gaza.
The Italian Prime Minister is demanding the Israeli government an apology for the treatment of the Italian demonstrators and also for showing total contempt to its requests.
Different groups of activists have been organising maritime trips to Gaza in an attempt to distribute aid to the territory. However, the actions have often been described as performative by many critics, including Palestinians, since it is well known that Israel would not allow the entry of such ships into Gaza. Activists travelling on such vessels are being detained in international and foreign territorial waters outside Israel, sparking international condemnation over what critics describe as Israel’s broad and abusive illegal reach.
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