Rome: Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani urged his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, to release activists from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla as soon as possible, the Italian Foreign Ministry stated on Wednesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry's statement highlighted that Minister Tajani engaged in several discussions overnight with Israeli Foreign Minister Saar. Tajani emphasized that the Italian citizens involved, including a member of the Italian Parliament and a journalist, should be released promptly and allowed to depart. The statement further underscored Tajani's call for the protection of the safety and rights of all activists.

The statement also mentioned the ongoing disembarkation process for the first group of flotilla activists at Israel's port of Ashdod, with a second group expected later in the day. Italian Embassy officials in Tel Aviv are actively coordinating with Israeli authorities to provide necessary consular support to Italian nationals.

The activists are set to be transferred to a facility for identification procedures before being permitted to leave, as per the statement. The Global Sumud Flotilla, on Tuesday, reported that all 50 vessels in its aid convoy, carrying 428 people from 44 countries, including 78 Turkish citizens, were seized by Israel.