These are images that arouse indignation in several countries, and first and foremost in Israel. The Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, posted this Wednesday, May 20, a video of activists of the “Gaza Flotilla” kneeling with their hands tied, after their interception at sea and their placement in detention in southern Israel.
“Welcome to Israel, we are at home”said the minister on these images published on social networks, with the Israeli national anthem in the background and which show dozens of activists kneeling next to each other,as you can see in the video at the top of the article.
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Even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissociated himself from his minister in a press release, believing that “The way Minister Ben Gvir treated the flotilla activists is not in line with Israeli values and standards.”. “Israel has the full right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza.”however, he wrote. France, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has qualified « d’inadmissible » these actions and announced to summon the Israeli ambassador.
Israeli forces intercepted boats participating in this news on Monday off the coast of Cyprus. “Gaza Flotilla”.
During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry indicated that the 430 members of the flotilla had been transferred aboard Israeli ships and were heading towards Israel. Then the Israeli authorities began their transfer and detention in Ashdod, in the south of the country, this Wednesday.
“We affirm that the scenes of torture and humiliation orchestrated by the criminal and fascist Zionist minister (Itamar) Ben Gvir (…) are the expression of the moral depravity and sadism that govern the mentality of the leaders of the criminal enemy entity.”Hamas reacted in a press release, after the broadcast of the images by Itamar Ben Gvir.
Olivier Faure demands an apology from the Israeli government
“It is unacceptable that these demonstrators, among whom are many Italian citizens, are subjected to treatment that violates human dignity.”declared for their part the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, in a joint press release.
“The Italian government is immediately taking, at the highest institutional level, all necessary measures to obtain the immediate release of the Italian citizens concerned.”continues the press release. Rome “Further demands an apology for the treatment of these demonstrators and for the complete disregard shown for the explicit demands of the Italian government.” and announces the summons of the Israeli ambassador to Rome.
In France, Socialist Party First Secretary Olivier Faure asked on X that the Israeli government “present des excuses au monde” after the broadcast of these images.
In Israel, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar took a position against Itamar Ben Gvir. “You have knowingly harmed our state with this shameful spectacle – and this is not the first time”wrote Gideon Saar on X, for his counterpart at National Security, a figure of the extreme right. “You have destroyed the immense, professional and fruitful efforts of so many people – from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry staff and many others. No, you are not the face of Israel ».
Around fifty ships left Turkey last week with the aim of a new attempt to break the blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip, ravaged by two years of war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented denouncing “a malicious plan intended to break the blockade (…) imposed on Hamas terroristsâ€.
