Italy asks Israel for explanations after detention of activists in the West Bank

O italian foreign ministry today asked the Israeli authorities to provide “urgent clarifications” on the arrest of several Italian activists in the West Bank.

These people of Italian nationality were arrested, “at the same time as other international activists”, in the village of al-Bweib, south of Hebron, in the West Bank, “while accompanying Palestinian farmers involved in the harvest of olives,” the ministry explains in a statement.

The ministry adds that it has “for now obtained confirmation that the Italians are in a police station”, after the Israeli authorities have confirmed “the presence of four Italian citizens”.

The Israeli police announced today in a statement that eleven foreign activists and a Palestinian were arrested at noon while they were “in an agricultural area where no harvest activity had been coordinated [authorized by the Israeli army, NDLR], and where an order (...) declaring a closed military area was in force”.

“ The activists present on the site refused to comply with the instructions of the military, to identify themselves with them and to leave the area,” adds the Israeli police.

The people arrested were then taken to the Hebron police station for questioning, suspected of “violation of a closed military area order” and “obstruction to a military officer in the performance of his duties,” the statement added.

According to Israeli police, “the interrogation of activists revealed that some of them had repeatedly expressed their support and identification with a terrorist organization, praising terrorists” and that they “do activities against the State of Israel.”.

“ All foreign suspects were arrested after questioning and should be transferred to the Population and Immigration Authority for a hearing on their situation,” he added.