Još pet Italijana uhapšeno na Zapadnoj obali, Farnesina traži njihovo oslobađanje

Five Italian activists were detained by Israeli authorities near the West Bank village of Al Lubban al-Gharbiyye while assisting Palestinian farmers with the olive harvest. The Italian Foreign Ministry, known as the Farnesina, demanded their immediate release on Thursday. The detainees are currently held at a police station. Rome stated that the arrests occurred during an operation involving other foreign nationals. Diplomatic staff from the Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv and the General Consulate in Jerusalem have contacted Israeli officials to seek clarification on the circumstances and provide consular assistance. The olive season represents a critical period for Palestinian livelihoods and carries a high risk of incidents with settlers. International volunteers frequently travel to the territories to support local agriculture and act as human shields. This week has seen repeated detentions of such groups. Last week, two Italians, father and son Alberto and Manuel Tartarotti from Bolzano, were held for over a day on terrorism charges before being formally expelled. They had arrived to deliver humanitarian funds and support field work. The following day, another group of volunteers was stopped. Five Italian women among them were questioned at a police station for hours and subsequently expelled. Also last week, a large-scale raid by the Israel Defense Forces resulted in the arrest of approximately ninety volunteers. Among those detained was Brad Lander, a Jewish Democratic candidate for the United States Congress. Lander posted on social media that he was merely picking olives and argued that harvesting them is not a crime under international law. He was later released under strict movement restrictions. The current detention marks the latest escalation in tensions surrounding agricultural activities in the occupied territory. The Italian government emphasized its request for prompt answers regarding the legal basis for holding its citizens. Local diplomatic missions are coordinating efforts to ensure the safety and rights of the detained individuals. The presence of foreign observers continues to draw attention to the security operations conducted in these areas. Officials in Rome monitor the situation closely, prioritizing the welfare of the nationals involved. The broader context involves ongoing disputes over land access and resource collection during this specific seasonal window. Authorities in the region maintain that security measures are necessary, while advocates argue that peaceful farming should remain protected. The diplomatic dialogue aims to resolve the status of the five men quickly. No further details regarding the specific charges against them have been publicly confirmed beyond the initial ministry statements. The focus remains on securing their freedom through official channels.