Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya said his government had followed up the issue of the slain Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni since the first moments of his abduction and issued strict orders to secure his release immediately.
In a statement following an urgent cabinet meeting held on Friday, Haneyya added that the killers perpetrated their crime without respecting the time set by them, the thing which confirmed their premeditated intent to commit the crime.
"The crime has happened as the Gaza Strip is enjoying a state of highest security and stability, and this is an exceptional incident we are keen it will not happen again," the premier stressed.
He added that his government on behalf of the Palestinian people strongly condemns this crime which does not reflect their Palestinian values, culture and history in dealing with nations, countries and guests, especially the pro-Palestinian activists.
The premier noted that the government gave orders to its interior ministry to reveal the circumstances of the crime, arrest the perpetrators and follow all legal measures to punish them.
The premier also pointed out that the interior ministry was able to arrest some culprits a few hours after the crime was committed.
The government will hold a solemn funeral for Arrigoni when it receives his body, and an official and popular delegation will leave for Rome to offer condolences, the premier said.
Over a telephone call, Haneyya offered his condolences to Arrigoni's mother and promised her to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
In this regard, the interior ministry in Gaza released a statement explaining some circumstances of the crime.
"Since receiving information about the kidnapping of Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni, the security apparatuses had been on full alert searching and investigating, which led to one member of the gang who confessed against the rest and revealed the whereabouts of the activist, so the security apparatuses moved swiftly and wisely to the place and found that the kidnapped was hideously killed hours ago according to the forensic report," the interior ministry's statement read.
"The initial findings indicated that the kidnappers' intent was to murder, where the crime happened shortly after he was kidnapped," the statement added.
"The motives behind the crime, though it seems to have certain ideological hallmarks, they are referring to some hands still conspiring against the Palestinian people in Gaza and wanting to undermine their security and steadfastness, and terrorize the international popular movement in solidarity with the Gaza Strip," it emphasized.
The ministry said it would remain keen on promoting stability and security in Gaza, asserting this incident was the first of its kind in years.
