Italy and France have denounced as unacceptable the treatment of pro-Palestinian activists who were on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli naval forces near Cyprus.
Both countries summoned Israel's ambassadors after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video showing himself taunting activists detained at the port of Ashdod.
His actions prompted rare criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said they were not in line with Israel's values.
A rights group representing the 430 participants from more than 40 countries who took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) has demanded their immediate release.
The flotilla, which carried a token amount of aid, set out to highlight the tough conditions for Palestinians in war-torn Gaza. Israel dismissed it as a PR stunt at the service of Hamas.
More than 50 boats taking part in the flotilla set sail from Turkey. On Monday morning, armed Israeli naval commandos began intercepting the fleet in international waters west of Cyprus, about 250 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza, which is under an Israeli maritime blockade.
The GSF's organizers said all the boats had been intercepted by Tuesday evening, with one managing to get within 80 nautical miles of the Palestinian territory. They accused Israel of an illegal, high-seas aggression and said Israeli commandos had opened fire at six boats, used water cannon, and intentionally rammed one vessel.
The Israeli foreign ministry said no live ammunition was used and insisted it would not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.
The ministry also said that all the activists had been transferred to Israeli vessels and that they would be allowed to meet their consular representatives after arriving in Israel.
On Tuesday, Ben-Gvir – an ultra-nationalist who oversees Israel's police force – posted a video on social media, captioned Welcome to Israel, which showed him visiting a detention facility where the activists are being held. He is seen encouraging security personnel as they push down a female activist who shouts Free, Free, Palestine as he walks past her.
Ben-Gvir is then shown waving a large Israeli flag next to dozens of activists kneeling on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs. He tells them in Hebrew: Welcome to Israel. We are the masters. Other activists are shown kneeling on the deck of a ship as the Israeli national anthem is played.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the video unacceptable and demanded an apology. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also said Ben Gvir's actions were unacceptable.
In an unusual step, Israel's foreign minister joined the condemnation of his cabinet colleague. Addressing him on X, Gideon Saar wrote: You knowingly caused harm to our state in this disgraceful display - and not for the first time. Ben-Gvir hit back swiftly, saying: The foreign minister is expected to understand that Israel has stopped being a pushover.
Netanyahu issued his own rebuke, stating: Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza... However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel's values and norms.
The GSF said the activists on board were carrying food, baby formula and medical aid for Palestinians in Gaza, where living conditions are dire and most of the 2.1 million population is displaced, despite the ceasefire agreed by Israel and Hamas last October.
The Israeli foreign ministry described Gaza as flooded with aid, saying more than 1.5 million tonnes of aid and thousands of tonnes of medical supplies had entered the territory over the past seven months. The UN said last week that many displaced families in Gaza were still forced to shelter in overcrowded tents or severely damaged structures due to the absence of safer alternatives.
