“They came with great pride, as great heroes; look how they look now,” says Ben Gvir happily. “No heroes, nothing. Supporters of terrorism. I say to Netanyahu, give them to me for a very long time.”
The video shows one of the detainees screaming: “Free, free Palestine!” As Ben Gvir walks. She is roughly grabbed by the head and forced into a squatting position.
Senior officials in countries such as Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, Netherlands, Pakistan, Portugal, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain and Turkey have denounced the treatment of their citizens and others seized from the flotilla off the coast of Cyprus.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – whose strong support for Israel has declined amid the genocide in Gaza and Massacre in Lebanon –Named The video is “unacceptable.”
“It is unacceptable that these demonstrators, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates human dignity,” she said. “The Italian government shall immediately take, at the highest institutional levels, all necessary steps to ensure the immediate release of the Italian citizens concerned.”
The right-wing leader added, “Italy also demands an apology for the treatment these demonstrators received and for the complete disdain shown towards the explicit requests of the Italian government.” “For these reasons, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will immediately summon the Israeli ambassador to request official clarifications about what happened.”
Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Named Ben Gvir’s behavior is “intolerable” and a “humiliating violation of human dignity.”
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung accused Israeli forces of illegally kidnapping his country’s citizens from the fleet, a move he described as “out of line.”
Speaking on Wednesday at a Cabinet meeting in Seoul, Lee pointed to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court in 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza. The ICC is also believed to be seeking the arrest of Ben Gvir and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in connection with ethnic cleansing and settler colonialism in the illegally occupied West Bank.
“Almost all European countries have issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and announced plans to arrest him if he enters their territories. We must also take this into account,” he told me. He said. “There are minimum international standards, and Israel is violating them all. They must adhere to the principles. We have tolerated this for too long.”
“What is the legal basis for Israel’s seizure or sinking of ships, including those carrying our citizens, who volunteer in Gaza? Isn’t Israel’s invasion and occupation of Gaza illegal under international law?” Lee asked.
When National Security Advisor Wee Sung Lak responded that “the conflict began with Hamas attacking Israel” on October 7, 2023, Lee responded by asking whether Gaza was Israeli territory. When Wei acknowledged that was not the case, Li added: “Shouldn’t we be protesting? Even during combat, is it possible to seize a third country’s ships? It’s a matter of common sense, not just law, right?”
“There are minimum international standards, and Israel is violating them all.”
Israel He maintains that San Remo Guide It allows the interception and confiscation of fleet ships trying to reach Gaza on the high seas. However, many international and maritime law experts point out that San Remo is not a legally binding treaty. Crucially, the document also prohibits blockades that cause “excessive” harm to civilians and result in insufficient provision of “food and other things necessary” for survival. Israel’s “total blockade” of Gaza has fueled famine and disease, and is the basis for the ICC’s arrest warrant for Gallant.
On the other hand, UN treaties and resolutions, the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and the Genocide Convention—on which the genocide case against Israel was based and which was brought by South Africa and upheld by nearly 20 countries—prohibit or limit Israel’s obstruction of humanitarian aid.
Netanyahu and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar — also a member of the prime minister’s Likud party — surprised many international observers by condemning Ben Gvir’s behavior.
Netanyahu said: “Israel has every right to prevent the provocative fleets of terrorist Hamas supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza.” He said. He added: “But the way Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israeli values and norms.”
Israeli forces have been accused of physically and psychologically torturing kidnappers in the past, without protest from Netanyahu. In 2010, Israeli forces killed nine activists aboard one of Gaza’s first-ever flotillas, including a Turkish-American teenager. Furkan Dogan.
In a statement following Netanyahu’s statements, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said He said“Mr. Ben Gvir’s actions towards the passengers of the Global Resilience Fleet, which were condemned by his colleagues in the Israeli government, are unacceptable.”
He added, “I have requested to summon the Israeli ambassador to France to express our dissatisfaction and obtain explanations.” “The safety of our citizens is a constant priority. Whatever one’s opinion of this fleet – and we have indicated on several occasions our disagreement with this initiative – our citizens participating in it must be treated with respect and released as quickly as possible.”
Some critics also pointed out that Ben Gvir was like that convicted In 2007, he was charged with incitement to racism and supporting the Jewish terrorist group Kach after he advocated the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
Others warned against pointing the finger at Israeli leaders individually.
“There is an attempt to portray Ben Gvir and his treatment of activists as a whole issue, as if it were an individual act,” Palestinian journalist Reda Yassin. He said On
He added, “It must be emphasized that this matter is linked to large-scale state terrorism practiced by the occupying force and its army.” “It begins with genocide, blockades, sea piracy, hijacking of ships, shooting of participants, use of skunk water cannons, deliberate collisions, beatings, and other violations.”
Some observers highlighted inflammatory statements about fleet members made by other Israeli officials, including Likud Transport Minister Miri Regev, who posted a comment on her website: video Because she enjoyed treating detainees.
Knesset Member Katie Sheetrit, also from the Likud Party, said during a press conference interview on the far-right Channel 14, that activists “should be treated” like terrorists – who are usually killed by Israeli forces, often along with their families.
In response to Ben Gvir’s video, the Israel-based Palestinian legal aid group Adalah responded He said And that “Israel is pursuing a criminal policy based on abuse and insult against activists who seek to confront Israel’s ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people.”
The group added: “The international community must take urgent action to protect fleet members from this brutal and illegal behavior by Israeli officials.”
Palestinians He walked in Gaza on Wednesday in support of detained activists, at least 87 of whom have reportedly begun a hunger strike “in protest against their illegal kidnapping and in solidarity with more than 9,500 Palestinian hostages held in Israeli cells.” according to Fleet organizers.
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