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A video posted on social media by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir showing the far-right Cabinet member mocking activists belonging to a Gaza-bound aid flotilla has caused outrage among European governments and members of the Israeli leadership.<\/p>\n
The video, published on X on Wednesday, shows Ben-Gvir with a group of supporters, waving an Israeli flag and mocking activists from the international Gaza Sumud Flotilla, who are handcuffed and kneeling on the ground in the Israeli port city of Ashdod.<\/p>\n
“Welcome to Israel, we are the hosts here,” Ben-Gvir shouts.<\/p>\n
The flotilla was stopped by Israeli authorities, who seized all 430 activists and took them to Ashdod on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Italian and French Foreign Ministries responded to Ben-Gvir’s video by summoning their respective Israeli ambassadors, while the Greek government condemned the minister’s behaviour.<\/p>\n
At the instruction of Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, an official protest was also lodged with the Israeli authorities, a statement said. Greece demands full respect for international humanitarian law and human rights, as well as the swift resolution of all proceedings and the immediate release of the Greek citizens, the statement continued.<\/p>\n
“What emerges from Minister Ben Gvir’s video is absolutely unacceptable and contrary to every basic safeguard of human dignity,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote on X.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also commented on X that it “is inadmissible that these demonstrators, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates human dignity.” She demanded an apology, as well as “formal clarifications on what has occurred.”<\/p>\n
French Foreign Minister Jean-No\u00ebl Barrot said the Israeli ambassador to France had been summoned in order to convey France’s outrage and demand an explanation for Ben-Gvir’s actions. French participants in the flotilla “must be treated with respect and released as quickly as possible,” Barrot added.<\/p>\n
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar distanced himself from his far-right Cabinet colleague, who is one of the most controversial members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.<\/p>\n
“You knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display – and not for the first time,” Saar wrote on X, adding that Ben-Gvir is “not the face of Israel.”<\/p>\n
Shortly afterwards, Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted images under the headline “These are our values,” showing Israeli police officers handing water to the detained activists and speaking with them.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu said Ben-Gvir’s treatment of the activists did not reflect Israeli values or norms. However, he emphasized that Israel has the right to “prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza.” He said he had instructed the relevant authorities to deport the activists as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
Other countries also criticized the treatment of the activists. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called Ben-Gvir\u2019s behaviour “completely unacceptable” and told dpa it contradicted the values Germany and Israel sought to uphold together.<\/p>\n
Spanish Foreign Minister Jos\u00e9 Manuel Albares said he had seen a “monstrous” and “inhumane” video showing flotilla members being humiliated by an Israeli minister and police. Spain summoned Israel’s charg\u00e9 d\u2019affaires in Madrid and demanded the activists’ immediate release as well as a public apology. Portugal also summoned the Israeli ambassador.<\/p>\n
British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the actions seen in the video violated “the most basic standards of respect and dignity.”<\/p>\n
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said he had contacted Saar over the incident, while Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot described the images as deeply disturbing.<\/p>\n
Israel accuses some of the activists of links to the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas. Organizers of the initiative say the aim of the flotilla was to “establish a humanitarian corridor and break Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n