Italy urges 'immediate release' of activists detained in West Bank

The Italian foreign ministry called on Thursday for the "immediate release" of five Italian activists detained in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The activists were held near the village of Al-Lubban al-Gharbiyye, "where they were present alongside Palestinian farmers engaged in the olive harvest", said a ministry statement. "The Italian nationals were detained today during an operation that reportedly also involved other foreign citizens," it said. Rome is seeking "immediate clarification regarding the circumstances of the detention", the ministry said, adding that the Italians were being held at a police station.