The Italian official stated that two flights might be destined for London and Madrid, carrying members of the flotilla that aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, including four Portuguese citizens, who were detained by Israeli authorities between Wednesday night and this morning.
“Madrid and London have requested, but we will see,” said Tajani during a parliamentary hearing today in Rome, updating the number of detained Italian activists to 40.
Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of approximately 50 vessels, headed to the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid, detaining its participants, including Left Bloc leader Mariana Mortágua, actress Sofia Aparício, and activists Miguel Duarte and Diogo Chaves.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro stated today that he expects the Portuguese citizens to return to the country “without any incident,” considering that the humanitarian flotilla’s message was conveyed.
The flotilla members were initially taken to the port of Ashdod, and according to Tajani, the intention is to complete the transfer to a prison in Beersheba tonight, after the Yom Kippur holiday.
The Italian embassy plans to begin visiting its citizens on Friday morning and resume on Sunday, after the Sabbath.
The Italian foreign minister also provided information regarding the “Karma” ship, carrying Democratic Party (PD) deputy Arturo Scotto and MEP Annalisa Corrado, which separated from the rest of the flotilla and headed to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
Green-Left Alliance MEP Benedetta Scuderi and Five Star Movement (M5S) senator Marco Croatti, traveling on the “Morgana” boat, were among the first flotilla members detained and taken for identification.
