France has added its voice to international condemnation of an Israeli politician who shared a video of himself alongside Gaza-bound flotilla activists on their knees with their hands tied after they had been arrested at sea.
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Wednesday hit out on social media at Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, over what he described as unacceptable actions.
"I have requested that the Israeli ambassador to France be summoned to express our indignation and obtain an explanation," Barrot said.
Around 50 vessels departed from Turkey last week with the aim of breaking the blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by two years of war.
Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla’s boats off the coast of Cyprus on Monday. In the early hours of Wednesday, the Israeli foreign ministry said the 430 members of the flotilla had been transferred to Israeli vessels and were heading toward Israel.
“Welcome to Israel, we are at home here,” Ben Gvir declared triumphantly in footage posted to his social media accounts, with the Israeli national anthem playing in the background.
The video shows dozens of activists kneeling side by side, their faces pressed to the ground and their hands bound, on the deck of an Israeli navy vessel.
A young woman who shouts “Free Palestine” as the minister passes by is seen having her head forced toward the ground by security personnel.
A spokesperson for Israel's foreign ministry said the detained activists would be allowed to meet with their consular representatives.
International condemnation
The treatment of the activists, many of whom are Italian citizens, was described as “unacceptable” by the Italian government.
"This treatment is appalling, it is disgraceful, it is inhumane," said Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares. "I demand a public apology from Israel."
Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said she was shocked and appalled by the video.
These activists “detained unlawfully... are in no way being treated with the dignity or respect they deserve", she said in a statement.
She called for the immediate release of Irish participants who have been arrested – including the sister of the Irish president, Catherine Connolly.
“Having set course for Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and challenge the illegal blockade, these civilian participants were forcibly abducted in international waters and taken to Israeli territory entirely against their will,” said human rights organisation Adalah.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the video, saying such images were not in keeping with Israel’s values.
However, he added: “Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza."
Israel controls all entry points to the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.
(with newswires)
