World

Italian Peace Activist Reportedly Hanged in Gaza

Italian Peace Activist Reportedly Hanged in Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (The Blaze/AP) — The body of an Italian pro-Palestinian activist abducted a few hours earlier has been found in a Gaza City house after a clash between Hamas police and the abductors, Hamas officials said early Friday. Reports point to a gruesome death that may have included hanging.

The officials said Hamas police stormed an apartment in Gaza City belonging to a member of the extremist group that released a video of the activist. Hamas police found the body inside, they said. It was not immediately clear how he died.

The International Solidarity Movement had identified the kidnapped activist as Vittorio Arrigoni, 36, from Italy. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made.

Gaza police were surrounding the small house where the clash took place. A police officer said the body was inside. He said four people were arrested in another location in connection with the abduction.

This was the first kidnapping of a foreigner since Hamas overran the Gaza Strip in 2007.

The video released Thursday showed a man with a thick black blindfold and a large bruise on his face. Apparently seated, he was held in front of the camera by an unseen person.

In a message on the video, the extremist group that calls itself Monotheism and Holy War demanded that Hamas free its leader, arrested in early March, and two other members whose names had not been previously known.

Sheikh Abu Walid-al-Maqdasi, the leader of the group, was arrested in a crowded beachside neighborhood of Gaza City last month.

Early Friday, the group posted a statement on its website denying responsibility for the abduction.

Arrigoni had not been heard from in the past 24 hours, said ISM co-founder Huweida Arraf.

In the past, all foreign kidnap victims in Gaza had been released unharmed.

Before the body was found, the Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was aware of the kidnapping, was in touch with Arrigoni’s family and was taking steps to ensure his safety. “Foreign Minister Franco Frattini is in touch with diplomats in the country and is following the situation with great attention,” the statement said.

Hamas itself is a fundamentalist Islamic group, but it faces challenges from even more extremist offshoots of Islam, including Walid-al-Maqdasi’s group, that take inspiration from al-Qaida and the world jihad movement. Hamas has denied that al-Qaida has a presence in Gaza.

Kidnappings of foreigners were common before the Hamas takeover. Most of those abducted were foreign correspondents, including Alan Johnston of the BBC, who was abducted and held for 114 days before being freed in July 2007, just after Hamas overran Gaza, expelling forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

ISM operates in the West Bank and Gaza and is known for trying to prevent the Israeli military from carrying out its missions. Arraf said this activist has been going in and out of Gaza for more than two years. He was working with farmers and fishermen.

The ISM incident that got the most attention was the 2003 death of American activist Rachel Corrie, who was crushed by an Israeli military bulldozer in southern Gaza while trying to block its path.

Comments (119)

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  • toolmanss109
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:27am

    Looks like Lefty Peace Activists can swing freely in that locale.

    Report Post »  
  • timej31
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:19am

    Hahaha I never ever understand how anyone thinks they can mingle with the enemy just because they are peace people. Like a zoo the tigers are all in place where you cannot get into. Why? Well because of 2 reasons. 1 it keeps people with little knowledge of the inerrant danger involved away from the tiger. 2 tigers lack the mental capacity to understand what you trying to do, They’re just tigers. Some people need to wise up. The real peace people handing bibles and getting capped by scum on their boat. Look people – mail the bible to them. Do not get into the cage with the tiger! Idiots

    Report Post » timej31  
    • thebarbarian
      Posted on April 16, 2011 at 5:21am

      allah – smite the nonbielevers about thier necks, cut off thier fingers and toes, then cut off thier heads…
      this guy got off light according to mohammad
      religion of peace????

      Report Post »  
  • reckless
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:17am

    Poor Dumba$$. Like putting his hand between two fighting pitbulls, just plain stupid.

    Report Post »  
  • CanDan
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:15am

    ‘Hundreds’ of Christian Girls Forced to Convert (Pakistan)…

    Suicide Bomber Hits Indonesian Mosque…

    Muslim Defrauds Gambian Church…

    Bangladesh Axes Secularism…

    Qurans Inadvertantly Burned During Quran Burning Protests

    Canadian Muslim Site Reluctantly Pulls David Duke Video…

    Failed Asylum Seeker Guns Down Dutch Policeman…

    Anwar Sadat’s Killers Unrepentant – Credits Fatwa…

    Last week brought a sober reminder that every religion has its
    extremists, as Christian radicals burned one copy of the Quran
    (and Muslim radicals attacked a half-dozen churches, burned dozens of
    Bibles, and slaughtered 321 people in 26 terror attacks in just 7 days).

    http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

    Report Post »  
    • thebarbarian
      Posted on April 16, 2011 at 4:09am

      i‘ve been reading up on the qu’ran and the hadith.have to say that from the religious texts that i’ve been fortunate enough to read onluy 2 speak of violence,murder,theft,and enslaving others as a good thing. satanism and islam. thanks for the info

      Report Post »  
  • Rob
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:11am

    One would have to be a MORON to even get near one of those wacky Muslim nations….

    Report Post »  
  • Justin.Long
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:59am

    hmm so does that mean they arent a religion of peace welll I guess Isreal is gonaa be blamed for this somehow

    Report Post » Justin.Long  
  • chuck_wagon
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:56am

    I find it real hard to be sympathetic for this guy. What do you expect when you go to a place like this?

    Report Post »  
  • Mashugakufar
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:55am

    THE ISM the International Solidarity Movement, the useful idiots crossed the line , this guy a supposed collaborator in palliwood was there and there for a long time. he saw something , and was kidnapped muzzled and hung for it. This was no Rachel Corrie he was not a naif like Rachel was his end wasn’t planned, like it was for Rachel, she gladly martyred herself. This man was considered a hero of the ISM movement, Ive read his articles, IMHO he was put away.. murdered by the animals he supported. That old adage live by the sword die by the sword.

    Report Post »  
    • mike_trivisonno
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:01am

      The left thought they could wield Islam as a tool against the West. But, as history has shown again and again, it is the Jihad that emerges victorious.

      Report Post » mike_trivisonno  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:54am

    When you hang around with snakes, you’re likely to be bitten.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • chips1
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 4:19pm

      Only a small percentage of snakes are poisonous, however when you see one, it’s not very smart to just pick one up. The same with muslims. Their religion is evil and keeping an eye on them is the intelligent thing to do. Your safety is your responsibility. The government is only there to investigate after the damage has already been done. Being “politically correct” only puts you in the victims list.

      Report Post »  
  • 28_ID
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:51am

    “All we are saying, is give peace a chance.”

    This is a warning to the lefties: you are cuddling up with the wrong people.

    Report Post »  
  • LindaB11
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:50am

    But wait, I thought the palestinians were the peaceful people and it was Israel that was the problem……

    Report Post »  
  • Windsong
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:49am

    Why would anyone want to be part of a religion thatshows no tolerance, no love, no brotherhood and no true observance of God or Allah? Perhaps those in the Middle East know no other way to live, but Muslims who have escaped the slavery of Islam have discovered that one can still be a religious Muslim, and co-habitate peacefully with those who are not. They could also learn how to build, open businesses, grow their own food, etc. They would, in essence, know freedom for the first time in their lives if they learned from Israel rather than hate them. There is no room for happiness or prosperity in the world of the jihadists.
    Now that Palestinian people realize that, IF they help destroy the only free Middle eastern country, they will then become the victims of the jihadists they have been working alongside. Oddly, IF the Palestinians had found a way to live peacefully with Israel – whose peace proposals have beeen continually turned down by them – they would discover that Israel would have helped them defend against he jihadists. What is so wrong with peace and prosperity? That is why I could never support the Palestinians. They have no honor…only greed and hatred..

    Report Post »  
  • MJaneO
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:46am

    It had to be The Christians doing the hanging—NOT the wonderful Muslims! LOL

    Report Post »  
  • RightUnite
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:42am

    Gee.. Maybe now, they will understand. You take your life into your own hands when you go into these areas.

    Report Post »  
  • MommaGrizzly
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:41am

    We need to support Isreal. Join cufi.org. If they stand alone we are all in trouble.

    Report Post » MommaGrizzly  
  • BetterDays
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:41am

    I guess they were at the end of there rope with him………

    Report Post »  
  • Proud AF Oathkeeper
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:40am

    Lord, please take this man’s soul into your loving arms. Don’t let his ultimate sacrifice be in vain. I hope we all remember him for who he was. Bless his family, keep them safe and give them our love in this troubling time and mourning. I pray this in your Holy name, the Christ Jesus. Amen.

    Report Post »  
    • Islesfordian
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:50am

      Thank you for your prayer. It is sad that so many felt the need to comment before you without any regard for the victim.

      If our hearts become bitter and hard we will not deserve to be saved from tyranny. God will lead us into slavery for the cleansing of our souls.

      Report Post » Islesfordian  
    • mike_trivisonno
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:59am

      More likely that the victim was a commie who, like many of his fellow traveler’s, was under the impression the the muslims were his “brothers” and that they we all on the same side…the anti-American side. Sadly, he realized too late that it was he and those of his ilk who have been used as tools by the Jihad.

      I do not feel sorry for those who desire to kill me or those who support the killers.

      Report Post » mike_trivisonno  
  • psst
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:35am

    Well! some one/group got a piece of him.
    Didn’t they also get a piece of a Jewish-Arab peace activist last week. It was posted on the Blaze.

    These peace activist are going to pieces, sorry to say.I feel sorry for their families.
    But, they must have known what the followers of the religion of peace are all about.

    Report Post »  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:29am

    The Palestinians appear to be different factions of Islamic terrorist. The only peaceful ones appear to be the ones living within Israel.

    Report Post » Marylou7  
  • TexasCommonSense
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:25am

    Peace though strength.

    Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
  • mike_trivisonno
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:25am

    Non-muslims do not belong there.

    The people toy with a culture they do not understand and for the most part deny Jihad even exists.

    He got exactly what he deserved. Deny Jihad and you will be killed.

    Report Post » mike_trivisonno  
    • Bermuda Onion
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:30am

      You know Mike, that is an excellent point! I know a lot of people will say how heartless and inhuman but the truth is that these people do not think as we do and all they know is HATE. Like that idiot on Die Hard the movie (the salesman). Sorry do not like to portary movies to real life but…….

      Report Post »  
  • mrsmileyface
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:23am

    I guess I have to add that even Palestinians dont care for thier own. Even at the hands of Hamas. Israel needs to stay strong. LONG LIVE ISRAEL.

    Report Post » mrsmileyface  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on April 16, 2011 at 2:15pm

      What they did was evil. What Israel does to Palestinians is also evil. war is evil.As Americans say”Aw shucks war is hell’. Long live Palestine.

      Report Post »  
  • Oh, God!
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:23am

    They are such peace loving people (roll eyes)

    Report Post » Oh, God!  
  • BetterDays
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:20am

    Bill Ayers did it!
    Sorry I just couldn’t resist…lol

    Report Post »  
    • mrsmileyface
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:29am

      Bill Ayers would get his nuts cut off by these people. Hey wait I have a brilliant idea.

      Report Post » mrsmileyface  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:36am

      HE and his wifey poo Bernadine Dorn were just there if I recall the story posted here on the Blaze, so how is it they walked away?
      Sometimes I pretty sure GOD has abandoned America for her sins.

      Report Post »  
    • afishfarted
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:49am

      I’ll help pay for his plane ticket–but only if Bernidine goes too. And Francis.

      Report Post »  
    • Islesfordian
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:53am

      You “couldn’t resist” making a joke at the report of a man’s death at the hand of al Qaeda terrorists?

      Is this who we want to be?

      Report Post » Islesfordian  
    • KenInIL
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:34am

      Let’s all hope Bill Ayers and his wife are given the same welcome when they visit Gaza.

      Report Post »  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:37am

      ISLE:
      What heresy have I, that being a man in need of a savior I occasionally prove I’m imperfect and still in need of Jesua, Perhaps you should inquizition me, oh yea it‘s called the office of faith and values now isn’t it. Isn’t that the office that Ratzinger held before he became YOUR pope?
      1647 years of torture and murder and your going to take me to task, thanks I’ll take the hint and get right with my Lord.

      Report Post »  
    • Islesfordian
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:51am

      You laugh a man’s murder then you launch into a religious attack when chastized for it. Yes, you are in need of a Savior, but I don’t think you will admit how much.

      I am, by the way, not Catholic. But that doesn’t matter. Your attack on that faith just elevates them and shows you to be the lesser man.

      Report Post » Islesfordian  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 12:10pm

      ISLE:
      I only agree with scripture, if it points to Catholicism then I agree with GOD.
      And as for what your opium of me is, is moot oand of no reference to me. Rather again I’ll stick to what scripture says on that topic,
      I will forgive you, but I will never allow anyone to miss use or miss represent GODS word, nor will your attempts to deride or chasten me. Again I stand upon GOD word , thereof if you disagree with me go tell GOD his word is wrong. Good luck.

      Report Post »  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 12:33pm

      @isle
      The more we interact the more you remind me of conversations I’ve had with a certan Jim Wallis.
      BTW, my initial remark was an obvious joke and an offhand reference to the equally lame socialist tactic of blaming Bush. You found fault, not because of the remark, but because I used scripture and an understanding of prophetic interpretation that proved a post on a different thread you had made to be against the word of GOD and there for anti-Christ, or in the place of the Word.
      There for I can asertain that you have harbored malevolence towards me in your heart, and that you were awaiting an opportunity to pounce upon one error that I would eventually make. If my post had been in any way off color you could not have resisted the temptation to strike at me. Yet, having done so, you still find your “victory” empty so the need to prove how horrid betterdays is still burns within your heart . I ask you, is that the heart of Jesus?
      I don’t think your a false teacher, I know you are.
      Get the behind me Satan, for it is written you shall love the Lord your GOD and serve no other.

      Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 12:55pm

      Sounds like a nice place for the Obama’s to vacation.

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • Islesfordian
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 1:34pm

      “BTW, my initial remark was an obvious joke”

      Yes that was obvious. that was what I thought both tasteless and cruel.

      “You found fault, not because of the remark, but because I used scripture and an understanding of prophetic interpretation that proved a post on a different thread you had made to be against the word of GOD and there for anti-Christ, or in the place of the Word.”

      I noticed no Scripture used in you first comment. The second one I saw a religious judgment with which I was not in total disagreement but it seemed utterly disconnected from your fisrt and from the nature of the event which was the focus of this thread. How could a murder in Gaza relate to God abandoning US to our sins? You make no sense, as you amply demonstrate in your rambling about another thread and anti-Christ comments.

      Seriously, you sound insane.

      Report Post » Islesfordian  
    • Islesfordian
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 1:39pm

      “There for I can asertain that you have harbored malevolence towards me in your heart, and that you were awaiting an opportunity to pounce upon one error that I would eventually make. ”

      Yeah, see this is a perfect example of paranoia.

      I just thought you were a jerk, making a couple of sick jokes about a man’s murder by jihadists. You do remeber you made two of them in separate comments, don’t you? But now I can see that you are totally unhinged.

      Get help. Really. Anyone else reading this will see the signs of megalomania and delusionary paranoia.

      Report Post » Islesfordian  
    • thebarbarian
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:10pm

      hi betterdays hope your doing well
      this is for islesford, look into all of the times where the kill people and celebrate. no one here was celebration. they were pointing out the sad and greusome irony that you useful idiots attach us for our beliefs and defendthem! then you are so stupid as to make excuses for thier behavior and blame us some more! then you ignore the facts and history. THIER SOLE AIM IS THE CALIPHATE THROUGH VIOLENT JIHAD YOU FOOL!how is it you leftist sre so blind?! they tell you that you are dead to them and are goimg to kill you in the name of allah. and you blameus.read the qu’ran, i have .it’s enough to make a person puke.

      Report Post »  
  • mrsmileyface
    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:20am

    And whos running things in the GAZA STRIP? Could it be…….Palestinians!!!! Any suprises here?

    Report Post » mrsmileyface  
    • Obama Bin Lying
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:26am

      Once again, they show why Muslims are part of the religion of peace and tolerance

      Report Post » Obama Bin Lying  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:28am

      A peace activist is killed in Gaza, but I thought they wanted peace?

      Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • Obama Snake Oil Co
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:32am

      That sounds like he was a “peace” activist…look who he was hanging around with? Pun intended…

      Report Post » Obama Snake Oil Co  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:33am

      The people like this, of HAMAS, want us the USA to enforce a no fly zone against Israel? Why in the blasted baking blazes of the deserts of the world would we even consider such?

      Let justice be done swiftly to the executioners, and may God grant peace and comfort to the mans family and friends.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • afishfarted
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:47am

      Kinda wierd when Hamas calls the abductors exrtremist

      Report Post »  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:50am

      Immediate firing squad sounds good. Morning, SNOW, hope you are having a good morning and that you, and yours, are doing well.

      Report Post »  
    • dawg of gawd
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 10:56am

      Looks like Greg Gutfeld.

      Report Post » dawg of gawd  
    • ozchambers
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:00am

      This is the result of liberal ignorance. They continue to think that if they decide to call an enemy “friend” and give them hugs, that they will lock arms and go skipping down a garden path to peace. They only despise you more for your ignorance and weakness. Just as they didnt learn this lesson after Daniel Berg’s decapitation, they won’t learn any lesson from this incident.

      Report Post » ozchambers  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:01am

      I hope he died with the name of the Lord Jesus Christ on his lips.
      More extreme off-shoot of Islam? How much more extreme can you get?

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • jdog777
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:10am

      I don’t know how to feel about this. The progressive left truly believe that Islamic whackjobs will be there BFFs when the dust settles. This is just an example of the thuggery these activists face. They are second fiddle in the coming insurrection and the Caliphate will stack the progressive bodies high.

      Report Post »  
    • DimmuBorgir
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:31am

      That‘s what you get for going to the middle east and thinking you’re untouchable because you are a “peace lover”

      stupid hippies, next time lets just backpack across iran

      Report Post » DimmuBorgir  
    • watchmany2k
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:32am

      I have said it for years, these “peace” activists and sympathizers
      will have a very surprised look on their face when they encounter the
      “poor” peaceloving, muslim.
      Does this surprize anyone with a brain ?

      Report Post » watchmany2k  
    • KOCHLEFFEL
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:33am

      Should have stayed in Italy, mind his own business and would be alive.

      Report Post »  
    • BIGJAYINPA
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:39am

      HEY you Stupid Knotheads–He was on your side!!!! Did you not get the word??? So much for the Religion of Peace.

      Report Post » BIGJAYINPA  
    • the_zazzy
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:41am

      I wonder if he’s still pro-Palestinian? It’s a truly grotesque story, but I have a hard time feeling bad for him. It’s kind of like feeling sorry for someone who dies playing Russian Roulette. Dumba$$!!!

      Report Post » the_zazzy  
    • Happy Killmore
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 11:53am

      I’m reminded of the Aesop Fable about the frog and the scorpion with this story. I just don’t understand why this guy, Code Pink, the Progressives just don‘t get that they’re the frogs working to save the scorpions that will only kill them in the end. Wake up!

      Report Post » Happy Killmore  
    • pappy86us
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 12:47pm

      Aaahhhh the religion of peace shows it face again!!!!

      Report Post » pappy86us  
    • DAWG OF GAWD HAS BEEN NEUTERED
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 1:01pm

      Are you OK little buddy? Everything healed up?

      Report Post » SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING  
    • Edct
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 1:02pm

      Ah yes, the peaceful cult from hell itself….they are terrorists and murderers and follow a false religion and a false god and will kill all of us if given the chance….there is no negotiation possible with these ignorant barbarians.

      Report Post »  
    • ManThong
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 1:02pm

      Any cult that behaves as they do in Gaza and has a murdering, polygamist and slave owning pedophile as a chief holy man deserves all that is bad bestowed upon them. When the world wakes up and retribution occurs, I will not shed any tears for anyone there. Some innocents will suffer but that did not seem to be a hindrance to the Almighty in Sodom and Gomorrah.

      Report Post » ManThong  
    • Meyvn
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 3:00pm

      Well I guess that one way to achieve peace. On an individual level anyway.

      Report Post » Meyvn  
    • jamesd1234
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 4:43pm

      Hey the fact is when Hamas gets hold of a Westerner, even a radical leftist, they aren’t going to pass up a good opportunity for a lynching for cheap headlines. Hmmmm. Maybe the Codepink Free Gaza Floatilla won’t be so bad afterall. Hopefully they’ll tour Gaza.

      Report Post »  
    • Patrick in AZ
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 6:19pm

      This is what so many on the left fail to comprehend about muslims engaging in jihad – when they are finished using you, they will kill you.

      Report Post » Patrick in AZ  
    • exdem
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 8:03pm

      I hope Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dorhn are on that flotilla going to Gaza on May 15th.

      Report Post »  
    • dawg of gawd
      Posted on April 15, 2011 at 8:45pm

      neutered . . . I love it when someone assumes my identity. It’s the sincerest form of flattery,. Just knowing that your’e bothered enough, upset enough, twisted so far out of shape that you take the time to do that is, well, it makes me well up and go all warm and runny inside. Thank you, little nipper. You’re a real trooper. Keep up the good work. Now, how about a corn dog. Would you mind? That’s good. Thanks.

      Report Post » dawg of gawd  
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