LIVE VIDEO – Gaza Flotilla: Israel stops ships, what happens now

Gaza Flotilla, activists including Italians detained: Tajani assures consular assistance

Israel has blocked the first ships of the Gaza Flotilla, detaining the activists on board, including Italian citizens. The ships were escorted to the port of Ashdod, where the entire crew will be held in temporary reception centres.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has released an update on Greta Thunberg’s detention, stating that she is “fine”. However, it is not yet clear whether Saverio Tommasi and other Italians are among the activists detained.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking on Porta a Porta, explained that “the activists will have to wait two to three days because no administrative procedures will be carried out during Yom Kippur. They will be assisted by our consular service and then repatriated on organised flights”. The Foreign Ministry confirmed that the minister had been in contact with his Israeli counterpart Sa’ar to ensure support for his compatriots.

The Gaza Flotilla activists will have two options: to accept immediate voluntary expulsion, which will take place as quickly as possible, or to refuse it, resulting in temporary detention in prison pending forced repatriation. In the latter case, the judicial authority’s expulsion order usually arrives within 48-72 hours.

The Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv has prepared a consular assistance plan and is following the matter with the utmost attention.

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