The images released this Wednesday by the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvirproviding humiliating treatment to the detained Sumud Global Flotilla activists has provoked outrage in the governments of Spain, Italia y Francewho have agreed to demand his immediate release and demand explanations from the Government of Tel Aviv, whose prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahuhas also expressed his discomfort with the recording.
“As I was leaving the German Chancellery, I saw a monstrous, inhuman and undignified video where members of the Flotilla (of Gaza) were treated unfairly and humiliatingly by an Israeli minister and the police. Among them are the Spanish men and women of the Flotilla (…) It is a deal abominable, unworthy and I demand public apologies to Israel“: with these words announced the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albareshis decision to summon Israel’s chargé d’affaires, Dana Erlichthe highest representative of that country in Spain. Among those detained, according to the data available to Foreign Affairs, there are 44 Spaniards. The Israeli minister who appears in the images “has been sanctioned by Spain and is prohibited from entering our country,” Albares highlighted, then stating that this prohibition will soon be extended to the entire EU. For now, the Spanish ministry will contact the rest of the countries with citizens in the Flotilla to act together.
Albares’ statements, made before Spanish media, occurred after the working meeting held in Berlin with his counterpart from Germany, Johann Wadephul. The Chancellor’s Government Friedrich Merz maintains the line marked for decades in Germany of the maximum caution regarding Israel, alleging reasons of “historical responsibility” for the millions of Jews killed in the Nazi Holocaust.
The meeting between both ministers took place on the eve of the meeting in Helsingborg (Sweden) between the foreign ministers of the I’LL TAKEpreparatory to the summit of the Atlantic Alliance that will take place in Türkiye in July. The event is marked by the announcements of the withdrawal of US troops from their bases in Europe, which directly affects those in Germany.
In the video to which Albares alludes, which has been released by Ben Gvir himself in X, activists from the Sumud Global Flotilla appear handcuffed and dragged on the ground, on a military ship, after being captured in international waters. The minister then receives them euphorically and triumphantly on land, while they are forced to advance with their heads bowed, jokingly welcoming them and warning them about what can await them in Israel.
The minister involved, with powers over the Police, was in charge of visiting the activists captured in previous flotillas in the Negev desert prison. It has been repeatedly denounced by the humiliating treatment that it dispenses to activists and for the inhumane conditions received by Palestinians detained or held in Israeli prisons.
Netanyahu has spoiled Ben Gvir’s manners and declared that this Wednesday’s video “does not conform to Israeli values and norms”although he has defended his country’s “right” to “prevent” the flotillas that seek to break the blockade of Gaza from entering what he has described as Israeli “territorial waters.”
Meloni breaks her warmth
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Melonihas broken his usual lukewarmness about Israeli excesses with a fiery statement. The images released by Minister Ben Gvir, he said, are “unacceptable”, and the treatment received by the protesters – among them 29 Italian citizens – represents an intolerable injury to human dignity. Rome has asked for his immediate release and, in addition, has demanded that Tel Aviv apologize: not as a request, but as a formal demand. The Italian Government already acts “at the highest institutional levels”, the Italian leader has pointed out, explaining that the Israeli ambassador has been summoned, reports Irene Savio.
The Minister of Defense, Guido Crossettohas also harshly attacked the ultra-Israeli leader. “We boast about other things, Minister. We boast of having always treated your compatriots with respect, and we are not in the habit of detaining people in international waters, but rather of rescuing them if they need it. I do not believe that with attitudes of this type any good will be done for Israel,” he declared.
The head of Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Noël Barrothas also described as “inadmissible“the treatment accorded to the members of the humanitarian flotilla and has announced the summoning of the Israeli ambassador in Paris. “The security of our compatriots is a constant priority. Whatever one thinks of this flotilla – and we have indicated on several occasions our disapproval of this initiative – our compatriots who participate in it must be treated with respect and released in the shortest possible time,” he added in a message posted on his social networks, reports Leticia Fuentes.
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