Ban deplores ‘appalling’ murder of kidnapped Italian in Gaza

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today condemned the murder of Vittorio Arrigoni, an Italian national who was abducted in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.

Mr. Ban extended his condolences to the family of Mr. Arrigoni, who media reports say was a pro-Palestinian activist who arrived in Gaza on a ship that broke through the Israeli naval blockade more than two years ago.

A radical Islamist group has reportedly claimed responsibility for kidnapping the 36-year-old, who was found hanged in a house in Gaza City.

“This crime was committed against a person who lived and worked among the Palestinian people in Gaza,” noted a statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson.

“The Secretary-General calls for the perpetrators of this appalling crime to be brought to justice as soon as possible,” the statement added.