A video featuring Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, appearing to mock activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla (including Greeks) heading to Gaza, has sparked strong international reactions. In the footage, the activists are shown kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.
“Welcome to Israel. We are the bosses,” he is heard telling the activists in the video, which he himself released publicly.
The video prompted immediate and furious reactions from countries whose citizens were aboard the vessels, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
The US ambassador to Israel, one of the country’s closest allies, described the far-right minister’s behavior as “despicable” and said that Ben-Gvir had “betrayed the dignity of his nation.”
The 430 activists in the flotilla were taken to Israel on Tuesday, where they were imprisoned and are expected to be gradually deported to their countries of origin.
After several hours of delay, Greece’s Foreign Ministry issued a diplomatic protest, stating that “the behavior of the Israeli Minister of National Security toward the citizens participating in the ‘Global Sumud Flotilla’ is unacceptable and absolutely condemnable.”
Three activists were hospitalized as a result of violence by Israeli authorities, according to lawyers representing the group, while dozens of others are reported to have suffered broken ribs.
According to the organizers, 430 activists from 40 countries traveling on 50 vessels participated in the flotilla. The mission departed from Turkey carrying food and other aid, in an attempt to break the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza.
Sources: Guardian, Καθημερινή, Εφ.Συν.
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