Meloni again criticizes Gaza flotilla as 40 Italians held

Italy said Thursday that Israel had detained 40 Italians from an aid flotilla, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni repeated her criticism of their attempt to reach Gaza.

"Obviously we will do everything we can to ensure these people can return to Italy as soon as possible," Meloni told reporters at a European Union meeting in Denmark.

But she added that "I continue to believe that all this brings no benefit to the Palestinian people".

After first saying Thursday morning that 22 Italians were reportedly detained by Israel, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani later updated that number to 40.

Tajani told parliament that all flotilla members -- from all countries -- would be transferred in a group Monday or Tuesday to the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv where two charter flights would take them to two different capital cities in Europe.

"They have asked Madrid and London," he said, without specifying who had made the request, "but they have not yet received a response."

Tajani noted that "up to this point, no acts of violence or complications have been recorded in the operation carried out by the Israeli forces".

Two Italian members of parliament and two Italian members of the European Parliament were aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aims to break Israel's siege of Gaza.

On Wednesday, the Israeli navy began intercepting vessels in the flotilla after warning the activists against entering waters it says fall under its blockade.

In a statement, the flotilla organizers branded the interceptions as "illegal" since they were traversing international waters.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Rome and Naples on Wednesday evening in solidarity with the flotilla, while Italian trade unions have called for a general strike on Friday.

"Israel is violating international law. It is time to block everything," said the USB union.

Meloni, the head of a hard-right government, had previously called the flotilla a "dangerous, irresponsible" initiative, even while Italy sent a navy frigate to provide assistance.

On Tuesday, the premier urged the flotilla to stop to avoid jeopardizing U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the Israel-Hamas war.