(AP) Italy’s new far-right-led government adopted a measure Friday formalizing the closure of its ports to rescue ships run by humanitarian groups as four vessels with more than 1,000 migrants continued to press for a safe port.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi told reporters Italy would allow a German migrant rescue ship to arrive in Sicily to land minors and those with medical emergencies, but he said the ship must then return to international waters with the rest of the migrants.
Piantedosi said the German-flagged Humanity 1, carrying 179 people, “forced the situation by entering into territorial waters.” But he emphasized Italy’s position that it is the flag country of each charity-operated ship that must intervene to provide a safe port — and not Italy.
