Israeli Appeals Court Upholds Ruling to Return Kidnapped Boy to Italy

Aya Biran, the maternal aunt of Eitan Biran, a 6-year-old boy, the sole survivor of an Italian cable car disaster and the focus of a cross-border custody battle, arrives to the District court in Tel Aviv, Israel November 11, 2021. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
Aya Biran, the maternal aunt of Eitan Biran, a 6-year-old boy, the sole survivor of an Italian cable car disaster and the focus of a cross-border custody battle, arrives to the District court in Tel Aviv, Israel November 11, 2021. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
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Israeli Appeals Court Upholds Ruling to Return Kidnapped Boy to Italy

Aya Biran, the maternal aunt of Eitan Biran, a 6-year-old boy, the sole survivor of an Italian cable car disaster and the focus of a cross-border custody battle, arrives to the District court in Tel Aviv, Israel November 11, 2021. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
Aya Biran, the maternal aunt of Eitan Biran, a 6-year-old boy, the sole survivor of an Italian cable car disaster and the focus of a cross-border custody battle, arrives to the District court in Tel Aviv, Israel November 11, 2021. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

An Israeli court on Thursday upheld a ruling to return to Italy a six-year-old boy, the sole survivor of an Italian cable car disaster who was kidnapped to Israel by his grandfather, Israel's Justice Ministry said.

Eitan Biran's maternal grandfather had appealed against a Tel Aviv family court's decision last month to send the boy back to his paternal aunt in Italy, in a cross-border custody battle.

The child had been living with the aunt since his parents, younger brother and 11 other people died when a gondola plunged to the ground in northern Italy in May.

In September, while visiting Eitan, his maternal grandfather, without the aunt's consent, drove him to Switzerland and chartered a private jet onward to Israel.

The aunt petitioned the family court for his return to Italy. The court found that the grandfather's actions amounted to kidnapping under the Hague Convention on the return of abducted children, Reuters reported.

The grandfather appealed against the ruling to a Tel Aviv district court, which the Justice Ministry said upheld the family court's decision.

"We order the minor be returned to Italy within 15 days," the district court said in a ruling released by the ministry. The court stayed implementation of the order for a week to enable the grandfather to appeal to Israel's Supreme Court.

"Although the appellant took the minor away illegally, his misdeeds should not come at his grandson's expense, and the minor should be allowed to meet with his grandfather, even in Italy," the court said.

Lawyers for the grandfather said they will consider an appeal to the Supreme Court, after studying the ruling.



Tehran Open to Negotiations with Washington ‘on Equal Footing’

Pezeshkian addresses diplomats from Islamic countries in Tehran on Saturday, in the presence of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (Iranian Presidency).
Pezeshkian addresses diplomats from Islamic countries in Tehran on Saturday, in the presence of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (Iranian Presidency).
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Tehran Open to Negotiations with Washington ‘on Equal Footing’

Pezeshkian addresses diplomats from Islamic countries in Tehran on Saturday, in the presence of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (Iranian Presidency).
Pezeshkian addresses diplomats from Islamic countries in Tehran on Saturday, in the presence of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (Iranian Presidency).

A day after US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to direct talks with Tehran, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Saturday that his country is ready for dialogue “on equal footing” with the United States.

Pezeshkian did not clarify whether this readiness implies acceptance of direct negotiations with the US administration. However, the statement appears to be a move to return the ball to Trump’s court, as the decision to engage in direct talks rests solely with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

While aboard Air Force One Thursday evening, Trump was asked by reporters whether he would agree to Iran’s proposal for indirect talks. He responded that he preferred direct negotiations.

Iran has expressed openness to dialogue but rejects direct talks under pressure or threat.

“If the other side wants to negotiate, why the threats?” Pezeshkian asked, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. The Iranian president said: “Today, America is not just insulting Iran, but the world,” seemingly referencing Trump’s policies, including imposing tariffs on imported goods.

Western countries, led by the United States, have long accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons—allegations Tehran denies, insisting its nuclear activities are purely for civilian purposes.

Meanwhile, Commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, declared that Iran would not initiate a war but is fully prepared to confront any military threats from adversaries, according to the German Press Agency (DPA).

Speaking during a meeting with IRGC commanders, Salami said: “We will not retreat a single step in the face of the enemy. We are prepared for all military and psychological scenarios.”

On Monday, Ali Larijani, a senior adviser close to Supreme Leader Khamenei, warned that although Tehran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, “it will have no choice but to do so” if it comes under attack.