Israel stops Italian delegation entering Gaza

Israel yesterday banned an Italian delegation led by the Deputy Parliament Speaker Luigi de Mayo from entering the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, Italy’s Five Star Movement said the Italian Embassy in Israel informed De Mayo and parliamentarians Manlio Di Stefano and Ornella Bertorauta that the Israeli government will not allow the delegation to cross into the Gaza Strip to visit the Italian projects in Gaza.

The group will visit projects in the occupied West Bank.

RAI TV quoted De Mayo as saying that Israel’s decision is an indicator of the negative policies adopted by Tel Aviv and their effects on the peace process.

The Israeli Embassy in Rome said permits to enter the Gaza Strip are subject to special security considerations.