Israeli Minister's Video Degrading Activists Sparks International Condemnation
Israel's far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, on the 20th posted a video showing detained activists from the Gaza-bound 'Global Sumud Flotilla' with their hands tied and foreheads to the ground. This act triggered strong international condemnation, with the EU and at least 15 countries, including Italy, France, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Canada, and Australia, criticizing the move as 'unacceptable' and 'inhumane.' Many countries have summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest, demand explanations, and call for the immediate release of the activists.
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- 📰 Published: May 21, 2026 at 11:14
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(CNA Paris, 20th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) A video released by Israel's far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, showing detained activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla with their hands tied and foreheads to the ground, drew condemnation from multiple governments today.
Ben Gvir posted a video on the social media site X today, in which activists from the 'Global Sumud Flotilla,' detained by the Israeli military, were treated in a very rough and humiliating manner, causing an international outcry.
Here is a compilation by Agence France-Presse of reactions from various governments.
● European Union
European Commission member Hadja Lahbib stated, 'No one should be punished for defending humanity.'
Lahbib, responsible for equality, prevention, and crisis management, wrote on the X platform: 'Look at this video. These are not convicted criminals. These are activists trying to bring bread to the hungry.'
● Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for the immediate release of detained Italian activists and demanded an apology from Israel.
'This treatment, which infringes on human dignity, suffered by these protesters (many of whom are Italian citizens), is intolerable,' Meloni said in a statement.
● France
France summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest the actions of Israeli National Security Minister Ben Gvir, who released the video.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on the X platform: 'I have requested the summoning of the Israeli ambassador to France to express our outrage and demand an explanation.'
● Ireland
Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said she was 'shocked and appalled' by the video and demanded the immediate release of the 'illegally detained' activists.
Among the detainees is the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly.
● Spain
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated that the Israeli envoy in Madrid has been summoned.
'This treatment is appalling, disgraceful, and inhumane,' Albares said.
● Turkey
Turkey's Foreign Ministry said that Ben Gvir 'has once again publicly displayed to the world the violent and barbaric mentality of the Netanyahu government.'
● Germany
German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert said the treatment of the activists was 'completely unacceptable.'
'I am glad to hear many Israeli voices, including the Foreign Minister, stating very clearly that Minister Ben Gvir's treatment of the detainees is completely unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values of our country,' Seibert wrote on the X platform.
● Greece
The Greek Foreign Ministry called for the release of Greek activists, believed to be 19 in number.
'The actions of the Israeli National Security Minister against citizens participating in the 'Global Sumud Flotilla' are unacceptable and absolutely condemnable,' the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
● Belgium
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said he would summon the Israeli ambassador to explain the video.
'Among the detainees are Belgian citizens. This situation is unacceptable. It violates the most fundamental standards of human dignity. All detainees must be treated with dignity and should be released immediately,' Prevot wrote on the X platform.
● Netherlands
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten wrote on the X platform that the Israeli ambassador had been summoned, while Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen called the treatment of the activists 'shocking and unacceptable.'
● Poland
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski demanded 'justice for our citizens' among the detainees and called for Ben Gvir to face 'consequences.'
'In the democratic world, we do not abuse detainees and gloat about it,' he said on the X platform.
● Canada
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said the video was 'deeply disturbing and absolutely unacceptable.'
'I have instructed my officials to summon the Israeli ambassador regarding the abuse of civilians on the flotilla. What we have seen, including the video shared by Ben Gvir, is deeply disturbing and absolutely unacceptable,' Anand noted.
● New Zealand
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on the 21st local time that New Zealand would summon the Israeli ambassador to express 'serious concern' over the treatment of detained activists from the Gaza-bound flotilla.
'We expect Israel to comply with its international legal obligations, including in its treatment of the New Zealanders involved in the flotilla,' Peters said.
● Australia
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement: 'We have seen the images released by Israeli Minister Ben Gvir, which are shocking and unacceptable. Australia has imposed sanctions on him.'
'We condemn his actions and the humiliating acts taken by Israeli authorities against the detainees.'
● United Kingdom
British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was 'very shocked' by the video of Israel detaining activists with their hands tied and foreheads to the ground.
Cooper said the video 'violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity with which people should be treated,' adding that London has 'demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities.'
Ben Gvir posted a video on the social media site X today, in which activists from the 'Global Sumud Flotilla,' detained by the Israeli military, were treated in a very rough and humiliating manner, causing an international outcry.
Here is a compilation by Agence France-Presse of reactions from various governments.
● European Union
European Commission member Hadja Lahbib stated, 'No one should be punished for defending humanity.'
Lahbib, responsible for equality, prevention, and crisis management, wrote on the X platform: 'Look at this video. These are not convicted criminals. These are activists trying to bring bread to the hungry.'
● Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for the immediate release of detained Italian activists and demanded an apology from Israel.
'This treatment, which infringes on human dignity, suffered by these protesters (many of whom are Italian citizens), is intolerable,' Meloni said in a statement.
● France
France summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest the actions of Israeli National Security Minister Ben Gvir, who released the video.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on the X platform: 'I have requested the summoning of the Israeli ambassador to France to express our outrage and demand an explanation.'
● Ireland
Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said she was 'shocked and appalled' by the video and demanded the immediate release of the 'illegally detained' activists.
Among the detainees is the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly.
● Spain
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated that the Israeli envoy in Madrid has been summoned.
'This treatment is appalling, disgraceful, and inhumane,' Albares said.
● Turkey
Turkey's Foreign Ministry said that Ben Gvir 'has once again publicly displayed to the world the violent and barbaric mentality of the Netanyahu government.'
● Germany
German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert said the treatment of the activists was 'completely unacceptable.'
'I am glad to hear many Israeli voices, including the Foreign Minister, stating very clearly that Minister Ben Gvir's treatment of the detainees is completely unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values of our country,' Seibert wrote on the X platform.
● Greece
The Greek Foreign Ministry called for the release of Greek activists, believed to be 19 in number.
'The actions of the Israeli National Security Minister against citizens participating in the 'Global Sumud Flotilla' are unacceptable and absolutely condemnable,' the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
● Belgium
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said he would summon the Israeli ambassador to explain the video.
'Among the detainees are Belgian citizens. This situation is unacceptable. It violates the most fundamental standards of human dignity. All detainees must be treated with dignity and should be released immediately,' Prevot wrote on the X platform.
● Netherlands
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten wrote on the X platform that the Israeli ambassador had been summoned, while Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen called the treatment of the activists 'shocking and unacceptable.'
● Poland
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski demanded 'justice for our citizens' among the detainees and called for Ben Gvir to face 'consequences.'
'In the democratic world, we do not abuse detainees and gloat about it,' he said on the X platform.
● Canada
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said the video was 'deeply disturbing and absolutely unacceptable.'
'I have instructed my officials to summon the Israeli ambassador regarding the abuse of civilians on the flotilla. What we have seen, including the video shared by Ben Gvir, is deeply disturbing and absolutely unacceptable,' Anand noted.
● New Zealand
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on the 21st local time that New Zealand would summon the Israeli ambassador to express 'serious concern' over the treatment of detained activists from the Gaza-bound flotilla.
'We expect Israel to comply with its international legal obligations, including in its treatment of the New Zealanders involved in the flotilla,' Peters said.
● Australia
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement: 'We have seen the images released by Israeli Minister Ben Gvir, which are shocking and unacceptable. Australia has imposed sanctions on him.'
'We condemn his actions and the humiliating acts taken by Israeli authorities against the detainees.'
● United Kingdom
British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was 'very shocked' by the video of Israel detaining activists with their hands tied and foreheads to the ground.
Cooper said the video 'violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity with which people should be treated,' adding that London has 'demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities.'