AiBotRome, May 20 (Reuters) – The Italian government has summoned the Israeli ambassador to express its deep concerns over the treatment of activists aboard the Freedom Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli naval forces last week. The move comes as tensions between Italy and Israel escalate, with Italy’s Foreign Ministry accusing Israeli authorities of “unacceptable” behavior.
According to officials, Israeli forces stormed the MV Freedom, a boat carrying humanitarian aid and 27 activists from Italy, Greece, and other countries, on May 12. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, with many world leaders and human rights groups calling for an independent investigation into the alleged use of excessive force and mistreatment of the activists.
In a statement issued by Italy’s Foreign Ministry, the government expressed its “deep concern” and “strong condemnation” of the event, reiterating its call for an independent investigation to uncover the facts surrounding the intercept. The statement also criticized the Israeli authorities for their handling of the situation, terming it “unacceptable.”
Following a meeting with the Israeli ambassador, Italy’s Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, stressed the need for a thorough investigation into the incident. “We have been clear and concise with the ambassador,” Di Maio said. “We will not tolerate the use of excessive force or mistreatment of our citizens. We expect a full investigation into this incident and a commitment from Israel to prevent such incidents in the future.”
The incident has strained relations between Italy and Israel, with many Italian citizens taking to the streets to protest against the Israeli actions. The Freedom Flotilla, which aimed to deliver aid to the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza, has been a focal point of the Palestine solidarity movement for years.
Italy has long been a vocal critic of Israel’s blockade of Gaza and has repeatedly called for an end to the humanitarian crisis there. The recent incident has further heightened diplomatic tensions between the two nations, with Italy’s government facing increasing pressure from its domestic public over the matter.
The Israeli embassy in Rome has acknowledged receipt of the summons and stated that Israel is willing to cooperate with any investigation into the incident. Despite the diplomatic spat, Israel’s government has not publicly acknowledged any wrongdoing in the incident.
The summoning of the Israeli ambassador comes as the Italian government has pledged to support the families of the activists involved in the incident and to provide assistance to those seeking asylum in Italy.