The five women, all volunteers with the global climate‑action network Climate Action Network, were arrested by Israeli police in Kiryat Arba on Thursday night while escorting Palestinian farmers during the annual olive harvest.
Kiryat Arba sits on the outskirts of Hebron, a flashpoint where Israeli settlers have intensified attacks on olive growers this year. Yesh Din, an Israeli civil‑rights group, has logged more than 330 incidents of settler violence since the harvest began in late September, ranging from vandalism to outright theft of olive trees.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking at an international summit in Istanbul, condemned the detention as "unacceptable" and called for an immediate return of the activists. The Italian mission in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem had already engaged Israeli authorities to clarify the circumstances.
On Friday evening, embassy officials met the released women at the airport, noting they appeared physically unharmed. The Italian mission in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem had already engaged Israeli authorities to clarify the circumstances.
The Italian foreign ministry has now submitted a formal request for a detailed explanation and is preparing to brief the European Union on the incident. The release comes amid rising diplomatic friction as Israel faces mounting criticism over its treatment of foreign activists in the West Bank.