Italy summons Israeli ambassador over video of Ben-Gvir taunting Gaza flotilla activists held in Ashdod, Israel

Italy’s government condemned Israel’s treatment of Gaza flotilla activists as “unacceptable” and said it would summon the Israeli ambassador for an explanation. According to the report, the move followed a video showing Israeli soldiers and Minister Ben-Gvir taunting and abusing activists who had been taken aboard the vessels and were kneeling on the floor with their hands tied.

A statement by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy “demands an apology for the treatment” of the activists and condemned the “total disrespect” for the Italian government’s requests. The statement said: “The images of Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir are unacceptable. It is unacceptable that these protesters, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates their human dignity.”

Footage described in the report shows Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir touring the Port of Ashdod, where activists from the flotilla were being detained. In footage released by the minister, he is seen walking among the captured activists, who are bound and blindfolded on the floor. Additional footage, the report says, shows a female activist approaching the minister and being restrained to the floor by Shin Bet agents. A social media post sharing the footage described the scene as “brutal treatment and torture,” a characterization made by the post’s author and not independently confirmed in the source.

In the released footage, Ben-Gvir is also heard telling one activist “Am Yisrael Chai” (The People of Israel Live) while “Hatikvah” plays in the background. He is quoted as saying: “They came with so much pride, look how they look now. Not heroes, not anything, terror supporters. I call on Netanyahu—give them to me for a very long time in the terrorists’ prisons.” People held captive and unable to defend themselves call for the kind of protection described in Psalm 82:3.

The report states that Israeli forces seized more than 50 vessels from the Gaza-bound flotilla on Monday in international waters off Cyprus, and that at least 430 activists were taken aboard. It says the activists were transferred to a navy ship described as a “floating prison,” then to the Ashdod port to be deported. The Global Sumud Flotilla, the international movement leading the mission, said Israeli military personnel boarded several boats off Cyprus as the convoy tried to reach the besieged Gaza Strip. The movement said: “The Israeli occupation has again illegally and violently intercepted our international fleet of humanitarian vessels and abducted our volunteers.”

The movement expressed outrage at “the normalisation of these violations of international maritime law and the kidnapping of peaceful civilians in international waters,” and demanded the swift release of the activists and an end to the blockade of Gaza. Video shared by the organizers showed activists filming as Israeli forces approached and boarded the boats. Organizers said the boats were intercepted 250 nautical miles (463 kilometres) from the shores of Gaza, and that, unlike previous interceptions, which were mostly carried out at night, the Israeli military boarded in daylight.

Organizers said on Tuesday morning that Israeli naval forces had intercepted and boarded at least 56 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla and four boats from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition in international waters, beginning around 10:30 a.m. Türkiye time on Monday. According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Israeli warships deployed Zodiac boats carrying armed commandos who spent at least nine hours boarding ships one by one.

Source: Read the original report