(Adnkronos) – Over 40 Italians detained by Israel’s military when it intercepted an international aid flotilla off Gaza last week are “well”, foreign minister Antonio Tajani told lawmakers on Monday, saying the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in Egypt on US president Donald Trump’s new plan for the war-wracked Palestinian coastal enclave offered “a glimmer of hope for peace”.
“The Italians detained by the Israeli authorities on board the flotilla vessels are well, and their repatriation is scheduled for Friday,” said Tajani.
“I am relieved that Israel has respected the rules of engagement to avoid acts of violence or complications in the operations of Israeli forces, rules also agreed with my Israeli colleague (Gideon) Saar, whom I asked, during a fresh phonecall, for further guarantees regarding the treatment of the Italians.”
Referring to the indirect talks set to kick off in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm-El-Sheikh on Monday, Tajani said: “Regarding the possible turning point in the situation in Gaza, for the first time after two years of conflict and immense suffering, there is a glimmer of hope for peace.”
“This is thanks to the plan for resolving the conflict, which, among other things, provides for the disarmament of Hamas, the release of all (Israeli) hostages, the cessation of Israeli military operations in Gaza, the restoration of access to humanitarian aid, and support for the Arab plan for the reconstruction of the territories”.
Italy withdrew its support for the The Global Sumud Flotilla made up of over 40 civilian boats carrying over 500 people including parliamentarians, lawyers and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg after flotilla representatives rejected a compromise proposal to drop the aid at a Cyprus port and avoid confrontation with Israeli forces.
An Italian navy frigate stopped accompanying the flotilla when it got within 150 nautical miles of Gaza’s coast. Italy and Spain deployed navy vessels last month to escort the flotilla, after it was hit by drones armed with stun grenades and irritants in international waters off Greece, but had no intention to engage militarily.
