Berliner Tageblatt - EU countries urge sanctions on Israeli minister for activists' treatment

A global outcry erupted after Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir published a video Wednesday showing the heavy-handed treatment of foreign activists from the flotilla who were detained at sea by Israel and awaiting deportation at the southern port of Ashdod.

In the video, dozens of activists are seen forced to kneel with their foreheads to the ground and their hands tied.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the treatment of the activists "unacceptable."

Tajani wrote on X Thursday that he had requested sanctions against the minister for "seizing the activists in international waters and subjecting them to harassment and humiliation, in violation of the most basic human rights".

His comment came a day after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the activists' treatment "intolerable" and demanded an apology by Israel.

On Wednesday, Sanchez wrote on X the "images of Israeli Minister Ben Gvir humiliating members of the international flotilla in support of Gaza are unacceptable. We will not tolerate anyone mistreating our citizens".

In Ireland, a leaked letter revealed Prime Minister Micheal Martin urging the EU chief for "further action" against Israel over the activists' treatment.

In the letter to European Council President Antonio Costa that was leaked to AFP Thursday by an unnamed government source, Martin condemned Israel's "shocking treatment of EU citizens" and "unacceptable behaviour" by Ben Gvir.

The letter dated Wednesday called for a discussion about the matter at the next European Council meeting in June.

"At the very least, this must include the banning of products from Israeli settlements and the suspension of parts if not all of the EU's Association Agreement with Israel," Martin said.

That June 2000 agreement -- a treaty that sets a framework for cooperation -- includes a clause requiring respect for human rights.

Sanchez called sanctions against Ben Gvir a "matter of urgency" for Brussels, saying that he had already in September announced a ban on the minister entering Spain.

Also Thursday, the United Kingdom announced it had summoned Israel's most senior diplomat in Britain following "the inflammatory video".

The video, which was captioned "Welcome to Israel", also showed Ben Gvir heckling the activists while waving an Israeli flag.

The activists had departed from Turkey last week on around 50 vessels under the Global Sumud Flotilla.

It was the latest attempt by activists to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza, after Israeli forces intercepted a previous convoy last month.

M.Ouellet--BTB