Israel deported an Italian activist to Italy after security forces detained her during a raid in the occupied West Bank, Israeli authorities said Tuesday, accusing her of having links to a Palestinian militant group.
The Israeli army arrested Stefania Costantin during a pre-dawn raid on Monday in the Dheisha refugee camp in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem.
Images shared on social media show an Israeli soldier lifting Costantini up onto his shoulders as she screams. A group of soldiers drag her out of the camp and into a military vehicle, the videos show. Israeli forces fatally shot a 14-year-old boy in the head during the same raid when they opened fire on Palestinians who were throwing stones and Molotov cocktails.
Italian media described Costantini as a defender of Palestinian rights. Israel’s Shin Bet security service said Costantini was arrested on suspicion of belonging to and transferring funds to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The militant group, known as the PFLP, was involved in hijacking passenger planes in the 1960s and 1970s and later claimed responsibility for suicide attacks during the Second Intifada, or Palestinian uprising, in the early 2000s. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
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The Shin Bet said Costantini arrived in Israel on May 2 last year on a tourist visa and was summoned for questioning last September over her alleged involvement with the PFLP. Costantini did not inform authorities “and even continued her activities” for the militant group, the security agency said. Israel deported her on Monday afternoon, the Interior Ministry said.
The COBAS left-wing workers’ union in Pisa, Italy, to which Costantini belongs, expressed “dismay” at the news of his arrest and deportation. The union said it was concerned about the “health and safety” of Costantini.
Mourners carry the body of 14-year-old Palestinian Omar Khumour during his funeral in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on January 16, 2023. The Israelis also deported an Italian activist after arresting her during the same raid.
(AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
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The group described Costantini as a specialist who works with students with disabilities and has long sought to advocate for “those whose rights are denied.” Several months ago, the group said, Costantini left his life in Italy and moved to a Palestinian refugee camp. He did not mention the accusations by the Israeli security agency.
The Italian consulate in Jerusalem did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The foreign ministries of Israel and Italy also had no comment.
But on Monday, the day of Costantini’s deportation, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen wrote on Twitter that he had a phone conversation with his Italian counterpart. The reading of the call focused on the joint efforts of the countries to “fight against terrorism” and promote their “political cooperation.” He did not mention the Costantini case.
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Israel has intensified its fight in recent years against Palestinian activists and rights groups. Last summer, the Israeli army raided and closed the offices of Palestinian human rights organizations that it designated as terrorist groups because of their alleged links to the PFLP. Nine European countries have rejected Israel’s charges against rights groups, citing a lack of evidence.
