ROME, June 5 (Reuters) — Italian officials made an urgent plea Friday for the freedom of two of their citizens being held in eastern Libya, who along with eight other pro-Palestinian advocates have been refusing both food and water for four consecutive days.
In May, Israeli military forces detained 430 individuals aboard 50 vessels in international waters, stopping a “Global Sumud Flotilla” mission attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The individuals currently detained in Libya represent a different faction of Flotilla advocates who attempted to reach the Palestinian territory through overland routes.
Officials in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi could not be reached for immediate response.
Italian Consul Filippo Colombo has made formal requests to local authorities seeking the freedom of the two Italian citizens and has asked for authorization to meet with them, according to the foreign ministry.
The ten prisoners have now entered their fifth day of refusing sustenance in opposition to their confinement and alleged abuse, Global Sumud Flotilla announced in a Thursday statement, noting that their physical condition is rapidly declining.
“A dry hunger strike (refusing to drink as well as eat) is rapidly fatal; without immediate intervention, this humanitarian crisis will turn into a tragedy,” the Flotilla said.
The organization reported that the volunteers are being confined in remote, non-civilian detention facilities run by the Libyan Interior Ministry, and are receiving conflicting information and empty assurances of freedom.
Global Sumud Flotilla called for immediate access by independent medical observers and foreign diplomatic personnel, along with the prompt, unconditional freedom of all volunteers.
The group has remained in custody since May 24, when the delegation came to the city of Sirte seeking to arrange safe transit for a humanitarian convoy destined for Gaza with Libyan officials.
However, all ten individuals were taken into custody on immigration violation charges.
