Several countries have condemned Israel’s treatment of activists detained from a Gaza aid flotilla that was intercepted on Wednesday, as seen in a video shared by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
He posted a video showing the detained activists sitting on their knees, with their hands tied behind their backs and their foreheads resting on the ground.
The video, published on Ben Gvir’s The video shows activists detained in Israel, where Ben Gvir is seen waving an Israeli flag.
Activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli naval forces on Monday are being detained at the Israeli port of Ashdod before being taken to jail, according to an Israeli rights group and the flotilla’s organizers.
Israel-based legal rights group Adalah said in a statement that the activists were “detained at the port of Ashdod” and “taken to Israel against their will because Adalah’s lawyers were entering for legal counsel.” The group has previously represented activists in Israeli courts.
In a statement, organizers of the flotilla said the activists would be taken to Ketziyot prison in the Negev desert in southern Israel. He said Adalah’s lawyers would not be able to meet the activists until they reached Ketziot.
Ben Gvir’s video criticized by countries
The video released by Ben Gvir was widely criticized around the world.
ItalyThe government of Israel said that Israel’s treatment of the flotilla workers was unacceptable. The government said it would summon the Israeli ambassador for clarification.
“It is intolerable that these protesters, many of whom are Italian citizens, are being treated in a way that violates human dignity,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement.
GermanyAmbassador to Israel Stephan Seibert described Ben Gvir’s treatment of the detained activists as “completely unacceptable and inconsistent with our countries’ core values.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said he had summoned Israel’s ambassador to Paris in response to the video. “Mr. Ben Gvir’s actions towards the passengers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which have been condemned by his own colleagues in the Israeli government, are unacceptable,” Barot said in a post on X.
Netherlands Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendtsen said on Wednesday that Israel’s ambassador would also be summoned to address the “unacceptable” treatment of detained Gaza flotilla workers.
British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper said she was “genuinely appalled” by the video. “We have sought clarification from the Israeli authorities and made clear their obligations to protect the rights of our citizens and everyone involved,” Cooper said.
During this time, turkeyThe Foreign Ministry said Ben Gvir “has once again openly demonstrated to the world the violent and barbaric mentality of the Netanyahu government.”
Canada Foreign Minister Anita Anand said she would call the Israeli ambassador to protest. “What we have seen, including the video shared by Itamar Ben-Gvir, is extremely disturbing and absolutely unacceptable,” he told reporters on a conference call.
Mike Huckabee, We Israel’s envoy has criticized Ben Gvir’s “despicable actions”. He wrote on X, “The flotilla was a foolish stunt, but Ben Gvir betrayed the dignity of his nation.”
European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib strongly condemned the treatment of workers by the Gaza-bound flotilla, saying that “no one should be punished for defending humanity.”
“Watch this video. These are not convicted criminals. These are activists trying to feed the hungry,” Lahbib wrote on X.
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas also condemned the released footage, calling it evidence of the “moral depravity” of Israeli leaders. Hamas, which attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, is considered a terrorist group by Israel, the US, Britain and several other countries.
Ben Gvir’s video is being criticized from within the government
Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had every right to stop the “provocative flotilla of Hamas terrorist supporters”, he said the way Ben Gvir treated the flotilla activists was “not in line with Israel’s values and norms.”
“I have instructed the relevant authorities to deport the instigators as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has openly distanced himself from Ben Gvir. “You have knowingly harmed our state with this outrageous display – and not for the first time,” he wrote on X, emphasizing that Ben Gvir “is not the face of Israel.”
Israel said all 430 workers on the flotilla’s ships were transported to Israeli ships and would be allowed to meet their consular representatives upon arrival in Israel.
Activists aboard the last flotilla, who were intercepted by Israel, were detained and deported.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery