Italy appeals for release of hunger-striking Flotilla activists in Libya

AI Summary

Italy appealed for the release of Italian pro-Palestinian activists on hunger strike in Libya who were detained for attempting to reach Gaza by land. The incident relates to broader tensions including Israeli naval actions against flotilla volunteers delivering aid.

By Mirko Miorelli ROME, June 5 (Reuters) - Italy appealed on Friday for the release of two Italian pro-Palestinian campaigners detained in eastern Libya who, along with eight other activists, had been refusing food and water for four days. Israeli forces arrested 430 people on board 50 ships in international waters in May, to halt a flotilla of "Global Sumud Flotilla" volunteers trying to bring aid supplies to the Gaza Strip. The people held in Libya are part of a separate group of Flotilla activists who tried to reach the Palestinian enclaveby land.