Two Italian Red Cross workers were kidnapped in the Gaza Strip today, the aid agency said, the latest in a string of abductions of foreigners in the lawless area.
The Red Cross said Claudio Moroni, 36, and Gianmarco Onorato, 63, were abducted in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza after their car was stopped by gunmen.
"We are doing our utmost to ensure their immediate and unconditional release," said Red Cross spokesman Simon Schorno, adding that there was no immediate claim for the kidnapping.
Palestinian security officials said they were searching for the men.
Francesco Fantillo, the Italian deputy consul in Jerusalem, confirmed the two had been kidnapped. "We have no information on who kidnapped them and why," he said. "We hope that this will be solved soon."
Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said he was being "constantly informed" about developments.
D'Alema said in a statement released in Rome that he had given orders to "activate all possible channels" to obtain their release and had taken some "personal initiatives" in that direction. He did not elaborate.
There has been a rash of kidnappings of foreign aid workers and journalists in Gaza in the past two years, usually by groups or families pressing the government for money or job guarantees. In most cases, the hostages were quickly released. None has been seriously harmed.
AP