A diplomatic incident occurred between Rome and Tel Aviv on Wednesday after Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Ben-Gvir posted videos of detained flotilla activists — including Italian citizens — being humiliated in Israeli custody.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited detained Global Sumud Flotilla activists at Ashdod Port on Wednesday. He then posted a series of videos on his social media accounts showing him taunting the detainees. The footage showed activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs and their foreheads to the ground, with the Israeli national anthem blaring in the background, as Ben-Gvir waved an Israeli flag. In one clip he forced the head of a female activist downwards after she shouted “Free, free Palestine,” responding “Shut up!” In another, he addressed the detainees with the words: “Welcome to Israel! We are the owners of the house.”
Several IDF officials subsequently told Israeli public broadcaster KAN News that Ben-Gvir had “exploited his position to get attention.”
Italy demands apology as ambassador summoned
In a joint statement, Premier Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called the footage “unacceptable” and announced that the Israeli ambassador to Rome would be summoned immediately to provide formal clarification. “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 is offensive to their human dignity,” they said.
Italy demanded a formal apology from Israel — not only for the treatment of detainees but for what it described as “total disregard shown for the explicit requests of the Italian government,” referring to repeated calls for the release of Italian nationals since Monday’s interception. The government pledged to take “all necessary steps at the highest institutional levels” to secure the immediate release of detained Italians.
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto added his own pointed rebuke. “Italy does not arrest Israelis at sea,” he said. “We pride ourselves on having always treated your compatriots with respect, and we are not in the habit of arresting people in international waters, but rather of rescuing them if they need it. I don’t think this kind of behaviour is in the best interests of Israel.”
Netanyahu distances himself but defends the interception
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu broke with his own minister’s conduct while defending the underlying operation. “Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza,” he said.
“However, the way that Minister Ben-Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel’s values and norms.” He said he had instructed the relevant authorities to deport the activists “as soon as possible.”
Italy was not alone in its condemnation. France also summoned the Israeli ambassador, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot joining Meloni in describing Israel’s treatment of the activists as “unacceptable.” Portugal’s foreign ministry summoned the Israeli chargé d’affaires and said it “condemns the intolerable conduct of Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir and the treatment inflicted on the flotilla activists.”
At least 87 activists detained from the flotilla have begun a hunger strike in Israeli custody. This is the second detention of flotilla activists in international waters this month.
