Israel Expels Critical Italian Priest on Pilgrimage for "Security" Reasons

The Italian priest Don Nandino Capovilla, 63, was refused entry at the Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. According to his social media posts, he was placed on a flight to Greece.

Don Capovilla is a priest in Marghera near Venice and known as a homosexual activist. He had arrived on Monday to join a “Pilgrimage of Justice”, organised by the Catholic peace movement Pax Christi.

He has sharply criticised Israel’s war in Gaza calling it out as a genocide.

According to Corriere.it, at border control, Capovilla was stopped and handed a form stating that he could not enter Israel for reasons relating to "public security" or "public order".

On Facebook, Capovilla wrote, "I AM FREE! They let me out now. My cell phone and suitcase have been returned. All good." He added that any journalist covering his case should "demand sanctions" on a state that "among its ‘mistakes’ bombs mosques and churches."

He also said he would not grant interviews about his "seven hours in detention" unless they addressed "a people who has been prisoner in their land for 70 years."

The rest of the Pax Christi delegation was permitted to continue with the pilgrimage.

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