Italy and France slam Israel's treatment of Gaza flotilla activists as 'unacceptable'

Published connected 20/05/2026 - 16:12 GMT+2•Updated 16:24

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni slammed arsenic "unacceptable" the attraction of Gaza flotilla activists detained by Israel, aft an Israeli curate posted a video of them bound and forced to kneel.

Meloni called for the contiguous merchandise of immoderate detained Italian citizens and demanded an apology from Israel.

"It is intolerable that these protesters, among whom determination are galore Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment, which violates quality dignity," Meloni said successful a statement, referring to the video posted by far-right nationalist Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

"Italy besides demands an apology for the attraction inflicted connected these demonstrators and for the full disregard shown towards the explicit requests of the Italian government," Meloni said.

The video posted by Ben Gvir showed activists kneeling with their hands tied down their backs and foreheads connected the ground.

The footage, published connected Ben Gvir's X relationship and captioned "Welcome to Israel", shows dozens of activists connected the platform of a subject vessel with the Israeli nationalist anthem blaring, and successful detention successful Israel, wherever the firebrand curate is seen waving an Israeli flag.

The video was besides slammed by France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who said helium had requested Israel’s ambassador to France beryllium summoned.

"The information of our compatriots is simply a changeless priority," helium wrote successful a station connected X.

"Whatever 1 thinks of this flotilla—and we person indicated connected respective occasions our disapproval of this initiative—our compatriots who are participating successful it indispensable beryllium treated with respect and released arsenic rapidly arsenic possible."

The posting of that video drew a crisp rebuke from Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The mode curate Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not successful enactment with Israel's values and norms. I person instructed the applicable authorities to deport the provocateurs (activists) arsenic soon arsenic possible," Netanyahu said successful a statement.

And Ben Gvir was besides criticised by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar.

"You knowingly caused harm to our State successful this disgraceful show and not for the archetypal time. You person undone tremendous, professional, and palmy efforts made by truthful galore radical from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry unit and galore others. No, you are not the look of Israel," Sa’ar said successful a station connected X.

The Global Sumud Flotilla acceptable sail from Turkey past week successful the latest effort by activists to breach Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory, aft Israeli forces intercepted a erstwhile convoy past month.

The Israeli authorities said 430 activists aboard the flotilla were en way to Israel, portion the Adalah rights radical said immoderate had already arrived astatine Ashdod larboard and were being held there.

Israel controls each introduction points into Gaza, which has been nether an Israeli blockade since 2007.

During the Gaza war, triggered by Hamas's October 2023 onslaught connected Israel, the territory has suffered terrible shortages of food, medicine and different indispensable supplies, with Israel astatine times halting assistance deliveries entirely.