Italy condemns 'unlawful' Israeli interception of Gaza aid flotilla
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CCTV footage shows crew members of the second flotilla that sailed from the Spanish port of Barcelona, carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, raise their arms as the vessel is said to be intercepted by the Israeli Army, at a location given as
ROME, April 30 (Reuters) - Italy condemns Israel's seizure of aid ships bound for Gaza and demands the immediate release of all Italians who have been "unlawfully detained," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office said on Thursday.
Israel intercepted the vessels in international waters near Greece late on Wednesday, a move the organizers -- Global Sumud Flotilla -- called an act of piracy against boats carrying humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave.
Separately, Germany and Italy's foreign ministries issued a joint statement saying they were following developments with "deep concern".
The statement, which did not mention Israel by name, called for "full respect of international law" and avoidance of "irresponsible actions," adding that the two countries were committed to guaranteeing the safety of their citizens.
They did not say how many Italians or Germans had been detained.
Meloni's right-wing government has been one of Israel's closest friends in Europe, but in recent weeks it has criticised its attacks on Lebanon, which have killed hundreds and injured thousands.
Earlier this month, it suspended a defence cooperation deal with Israel on account of what was happening the Middle East.
Israel, which controls all access to the Gaza Strip, denies withholding supplies for the over 2 million residents and called those onboard the flotilla boats "attention-seeking agitators."
Israel's military had halted a previous flotilla assembled by the same organisation last October in an attempt to reach blockaded Gaza, arresting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 participants.
(Reporting by Angelo Amante and Sara Rossi, editing by Alvise Armellini and Gavin Jones)
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