(Adnkronos) – Two Italian activists from the Global Sumud Gaza land flotilla who were detained in Libya last month on suspicion of entering the the country illegally will appear before local prosectors in Benghazi on Tuesday after Italy’s Consul General in the port city appealed for their release, as well as that of other flotilla activists who are being held there.
Filippo Colombo, the Italian Consul General in Benghazi, issued an appeal for the release of Italian citizens Leonarda Alberizia and Domenico Centrone on Tuesday – Italy’s Republic Day, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Colombo also requested permission to conduct a new consular visit to his compatriots, who, following requests from Italian authorities, have seen an improvement in their conditions and on Wednesday were allowed to speak to their familes.
But the activists have complained of the hardships of what has now become prolonged detention after they were held at the convoy’s encampment in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte over two weeks ago. They had joined a reconnaissance mission to eastern Libya – controlled by a rival government to Tripoli’s – from which the convoy hoped to cross into neighourbouring Egypt.
In his appeal to eastern Libyan authorities for the activitists’ release, Cololombo underlined Italy’s respect for Libyan sovereignty and its laws, “while also recalling the spirit of solidarity behind the flotilla initiative and its entirely peaceful nature,” said the foreign ministry statement.
Colombo’s appeal also referenced “the spirit of friendship and the deep bond” uniting Italy and its former colony of Libya, the statement noted.
“This bond can create the conditions for constructive dialogue to resolve this matter and for the detainees’ swift return to their families,” said the statement.
The foreign ministry, Italy’s embassy in Tripoli, and the Consulate General in Benghazi “continue to monitor the case in coordination with local authorities”, the statement added.
The land convoy, including an ambulance was seeking to get aid to blockaded Gaza over land after Israeli forces intercepted the 50-vessel Global Sumud flotilla in international waters off Cyprus on 18 May, detaining more than 400 activists on board.
