4 people from the Sumud Flotilla released

Israel has released 4 Italian parliamentarians it had detained on the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. The fate of the 4 Italian politicians, who were among the members of the flotilla attacked by the Israeli military on October 1, has finally been determined. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the parliamentarians have been released.

The released Italian parliamentarians include Annalisa Corrado, a Member of the European Parliament from the Italian Democratic Party (PD); Benedetta Scuderi, a Member of the European Parliament from the Green Party; Senator Marco Croatti from the Five Star Movement (M5S); and Arturo Scotto, a member of the Chamber of Deputies from the PD. These individuals were among the activists on the Global Sumud Flotilla bringing aid to Gaza.

STATEMENT FROM THE ITALIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

According to the statement from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the detained parliamentarians were transferred to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport and then boarded a plane to Rome. The ministry announced that the parliamentarians were expected to arrive in Rome around noon.

PHONE CALL WITH ISRAEL

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani had held a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar while the Global Sumud Flotilla was sailing in the Mediterranean, demanding that the detained Italian parliamentarians not be mistreated and that they be released as soon as possible. Following these demands, the release of the parliamentarians was secured.