Ramallah – Israeli authorities detained several international volunteers near Kafr Ni’ma in the West Bank on Friday, 6 November. According to current information, six Italians are among them. The government in Rome is calling for their immediate release and seeking to provide consular assistance.
The incident is linked to the olive harvest by Palestinian farmers. Previous statements refer to four Italian activists and two journalists. The exact identities and number of affected nationals are still being checked.
Italy calls for release in the West Bank
The group was taken to the Modi’in Illit police station. A transfer to the centre at Ben Gurion Airport is scheduled for Saturday, 7 November. Deportation procedures are to begin there; the return journey to Italy is planned on the first available flights.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the Italians had merely helped with the olive harvest and had done nothing wrong. The Italian embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate general in Jerusalem called for their release, clarification of the circumstances and access for consular assistance.
Those detained also include photojournalist Paula Jesus from Brescia and her partner Marco Cola, who works in the non-profit sector. Both had travelled to the region to document the olive harvest.
