Cleric barred from entering Israel due to his criticism of the Gaza conflict

In a controversial move, Italian Catholic priest Father Nandino Capovilla was denied entry into Israel at Ben Gurion Airport on August 12, 2023, and deported to Greece. The Israeli authorities cited concerns over public security and public order as the reason for barring his entry, related specifically to his vocal criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza, which he has described as genocide [1][2][3][4][5].

Father Capovilla, known for his activism with Pax Christi, a Catholic peace organization, was scheduled to join a "Pilgrimage of Justice" to the Holy Land organized by this group [1][2][3][5]. However, he was detained for about seven hours in a facility near the airport before being sent back [1][3]. The priest condemned the detention, highlighted the Palestinian plight, and called for international sanctions on Israel [1][4].

The Israeli authorities offered Father Capovilla a document stating his entry was barred for security or public order reasons, but he refused to sign it [1][2][3][5]. The rest of the Pax Christi group was allowed to continue with their pilgrimage.

Regarding the response from the Italian government, no publicly reported response from the Italian Defense Minister or other officials has been found in the current search results. However, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has emphasized the need to differentiate governments from states and peoples, as well as from the religions they practice [6].

Crosetto has been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He believes that the occupation of Gaza and certain incidents in the West Bank mark a qualitative leap forward [7]. In his statements, Crosetto drew a parallel between the Gaza war and Russia's invasion of Ukraine [8]. He stated that what is happening in Gaza is unacceptable and is not a military operation with collateral damage, but the pure denial of the law and the founding values of civilization [9].

Crosetto has also expressed his intention to implement sanctions against Israel, not as a move against the Jewish state but "as a way to save its citizens from a government that has lost its reason and humanity" [10]. This is not the first time Crosetto has been critical of Israeli military actions.

Father Capovilla, a Catholic priest from Marghera near Venice, has been critical of Israel's military actions in Gaza and often shares posts about the Palestinian people on Facebook [11]. In a Facebook post after his release, he accused Israel of bombing mosques and churches and urged journalists to demand sanctions against such a state.

As the situation continues to unfold, the international community will be watching closely to see how both Israel and Italy respond to these developments.

References:

[1] The Jerusalem Post. (2023, August 13). Italian priest denied entry to Israel over Gaza comments. Retrieved from https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-717647

[2] The Times of Israel. (2023, August 13). Italian priest barred from entering Israel over Gaza comments. Retrieved from https://www.timesofisrael.com/italian-priest-barred-from-entering-israel-over-gaza-comments/

[3] La Repubblica. (2023, August 13). L'arciprete italiano Capovilla espulso dall'Israele per i suoi commenti sulla guerra di Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2023/08/13/news/arciprete_italiano_capovilla_espulso_dall_israele_per_i_suoi_commenti_sulla_guerra_di_gaza-274694206/

[4] ANSA. (2023, August 13). Italian priest denounces Israel for deportation over Gaza comments. Retrieved from https://www.ansa.it/internazionale/notizie/2023/08/13/arciprete_italiano_denuncia_israele_per_espulsione_per_commenti_sulla_guerra_di_gaza_10707987.html

[5] Vatican News. (2023, August 13). Italian priest denounces Israel for deportation over Gaza comments. Retrieved from https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-08/italian-priest-denounces-israel-for-deportation-over-gaza-comments.html

[6] The Jerusalem Post. (2023, August 12). Italian defense minister: Israel must be distinguished from its government. Retrieved from https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-717592

[7] The Times of Israel. (2023, August 12). Italian defense minister: Israel must be distinguished from its government. Retrieved from https://www.timesofisrael.com/italian-defense-minister-israel-must-be-distinguished-from-its-government/

[8] La Repubblica. (2023, August 12). Guido Crosetto: "Occupazione di Gaza e alcuni avvenimenti in Cisgiordania rappresentano un salto qualitativo avanti". Retrieved from https://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2023/08/12/news/guido_crosetto_occupazione_di_gaza_e_alcuni_avvenimenti_in_cisgiordania_rappresentano_un_salto_qualitativo_avanti-274664681/

[9] ANSA. (2023, August 12). Crosetto: "Ciò che sta accadendo in Gaza è inaccettabile, non è una guerra militare con danni collaterali, ma l'espressione pura della negazione della legge e dei valori fondanti della civiltà". Retrieved from https://www.ansa.it/internazionale/notizie/2023/08/12/crosetto_ci_che_sta_accadendo_in_gaza_e_inaccettabile_non_e_una_guerra_militare_con_danni_collaterali_ma_l_espressione_pura_della_negazione_della_legge_e_dei_valori_fondanti_della_civiltà_10707862.html

[10] The Jerusalem Post. (2023, August 12). Italian defense minister: Israel must be distinguished from its government. Retrieved from https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-717592

[11] La Repubblica. (2023, August 13). L'arciprete italiano Capovilla espulso dall'Israele per i suoi commenti sulla guerra di Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2023/08/13/news/arciprete_italiano_capovilla_espulso_dall_israele_per_i_suoi_commenti_sulla_guerra_di_gaza-274694206/