Five Italian women activists released, repatriated after detention by Israel in West Bank

Israeli activists sit next to members of the Israeli forces on guard. Five Italian women activists detained by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank during the olive harvest were released and repatriated on Saturday morning, Italy's foreign ministry said.According to Reuters, the women were detained on Thursday by Israeli police in Kiryat Arba along with other international activists while accompanying Palestinian farmers to protect them during the olive harvest.The activists were held amid rising violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians harvesting olives in the occupied West Bank.Italy demanded immediate releaseThe development comes a day after Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani demanded the immediate release of the five women, calling their detention unacceptable. He said the activists had not committed any crime and expressed hope that they would be sent back to Italy within hours.Tajani made the remarks to journalists on the sidelines of an international summit in Istanbul on Friday, Reuters reported.Italy's diplomatic missions in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem had contacted Israeli authorities to seek clarification about the circumstances of the detention and the cond...