On Thursday 21 May, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service condemned the treatment inflicted on activists from a Gaza flotilla in the video released by the Israeli Minister of National Security, Ben Gvir, calling it “completely unacceptable”.
The video shows the activists kneeling, with their faces pressed to the ground and their hands tied, with some also being assaulted. Several European leaders, as well as members of the Israeli government, including the Prime Minister, condemned the situation.
“Every detained person must be treated with safety, dignity and according to international law”, the EEAS spokesperson noted. He called on the Israeli government to guarantee the protection and dignified treatment of these activists – among whom are several EU citizens – and their speedy release.
The Italian government has formally asked the High Representative of the Union, Kaja Kallas, to include the adoption of sanctions against Ben-Gvir on the agenda for the next meeting of EU foreign ministers “for the unacceptable acts committed against the flotilla, by seizing the activists in international waters and subjecting them to harassment and humiliation, in violation of the most basic human rights”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)