Italian Members of Parliament (MPs), members of the friendship group for Palestine, held a significant press conference today in support of Khaled El-Qaysi, an Italian-Palestinian researcher who has been unlawfully detained in Israel since August 31st. The conference shed light on the lack of clear charges against El-Qaysi, the violation of international law, and the denial of his right to a proper defense.

The press conference saw the participation of several notable figures, including Riccardo Noury, a member of Amnesty International's Executive Board, El-Qaysi's wife, Francesca Antinucci, his family's lawyer, Flavio Rossi Albertini, and Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur of the ONHCR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). Additionally, former and current Italian Deputies and Senators lent their support. The event was organized and led by Hon. Stefania Ascari, Chairlady of the friendship group and member of the League of Parliamentarians for Palestine, and Hon. Laura Boldrini, former Chairlady of the Chamber of Deputies and President of the permanent parliamentary Committee on Human Rights.

During the press conference, a strong call was made for the release of Khaled El-Qaysi. Attendees stressed the need for widespread mobilization of public opinion, political parties, and civil society. They also urged the Italian right-wing government, known for its pro-Israeli stance, to adopt a stronger and more effective position, as its current stance was deemed weak and solely based on declarations of respect for Israeli law, which contradicts international law and the principles of the Human Rights Charter.

Hon. Michele Piras, European President of the League of Parliamentarians for Palestine and promoter of the European Network for Palestine, described the press conference as an important initial step in mobilization. Piras, who attended the conference after two busy days of meetings with Italian and international MPs, emphasized the urgency of widespread European mobilization to secure El-Qaysi's release and highlighted the unjust imprisonments that occur in Israel, which he viewed as evidence of a state acting outside the bounds of international legality, utilizing security norms to suppress those advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people.

Francesca Albanese, the ONHCR Special Rapporteur, pointed out the lack of information regarding El-Qaysi's arrest and highlighted the violation of the Geneva Convention since his detention occurred in the Occupied Territories, beyond the Israeli borders. She denounced the abuse of international law and the fact that El-Qaysi was denied the right to meet his lawyer, a mistreatment commonly experienced by thousands of Palestinians.

During an emotional address to the press, Khaled's wife, Francesca Antinucci, recounted the harrowing moments of his arrest, which took place during security checks at a checkpoint in front of her and their son. She revealed that he was subsequently held in isolation, and forced to endure sleep deprivation, numerous interrogations, and psychological abuse.

Khaled's lawyer, Rossi Albertini, highlighted the stark differences between the Italian and Israeli systems concerning human rights and the right to a defense. He deemed the situation in Israel unacceptable and questioned why the Italian government hesitated to take a stronger position and demanded the immediate release of its citizen El-Qaysi.

The press conference served as a platform to raise awareness about Khaled El-Qaysi's illegal detention and the broader issues of human rights violations in Israel. The attendees' passionate appeals for justice and calls for action underscored the urgent need for international attention and intervention to address the situation and uphold the principles of international law and human rights.