Five Star Movement MP Dario Carotenuto and Fatto Quotidiano journalist Alessandro Mantovani, who were aboard one of the Flotilla ships intercepted by the Israelis, have returned to Italy . They disembarked at Fiumicino Airport from a scheduled flight from Athens, greeted with hugs by MPs Arturo Scotto (Democratic Party), Arnaldo Lomuti, Francesco Silvestri, Andrea Quartini, Alessandra Maiorino, and Valentina Dorso (all Five Star Movement members), among others. Also present were Mantovani's mother, Maria Gabriella, Deputy Editor of Fatto Quotidiano Maddalena Oliva, and activist Tony La Piccirella. All the other activists have been released and are en route to their deportation ports, departing Israel today.
The two reported beatings, including those of the elderly and women, physical and psychological violence and humiliation .
"During the deposition , they took off my pants with the wallet in them and didn't give them back. And then we were beaten; I even saw women hit . This happens because Israel is protected by half of Europe's governments, including ours," Mantovani said. During the boarding, the journalist explained, "they shot twice with bullets of some kind at the boat, not just ours." Then "we were taken to Ben Gurion Airport with handcuffs and ankle shackles, and then they put us on a plane to Athens."
They beat us and told us 'Welcome to Israel,' is Carotenuto's account: "It's all horrible," he said. " They savagely beat us by three thugs. I was punched in the eye and kicked. At a certain point, I felt like I couldn't see anymore ." He continued: "They kept me for six hours in a room with the air conditioning blasting at 17 degrees Celsius in my face, sitting on a chair. And this was the 'favorite' treatment they gave me. Then they took me to the airport with handcuffs on my hands and feet, making me pass in front of everyone as if I were a criminal." On the video of Ben Gvir: "I didn't see it, but he is a minister of Netanyahu and therefore represents the government of Israel."
The two were separated by the other activists: " : then they grabbed us by the neck and separated us. I never heard anything from the other comrades again." The MP thanked the Crisis Unit of the Foreign Ministry: "They did what they could, but it's politics that doesn't do enough."
