Italy's opposition parties on Wednesday called for Premier Giorgia Meloni's government to end its aversion to the idea of the EU cutting off trade relations with Israel and push for sanctions after activists belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla were subjected to humiliating treatment while in Israeli detention. "We would like to see the country and the continent raise their heads, sanction Israel, and sever all trade agreements with the most criminal government in the world today," 5 Star Movement (M5S) Lower House whip Riccardo Ricciardi said, demanding the government report to parliament over the Flotilla. Angelo Bonelli of the Green-Left Alliance (AVS) echoed that, asking Meloni "why she doesn't want to sanction Netanyahu's criminal government". Arturo Scotto of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) also called for the EU-Israel agreement to be suspended. In a video from the port of Ashdod, National Defense Minister Itamar Ben Gvir mocked activists who were forced to kneel before him faces to the ground, blindfolded and handcuffed, saying they had thought they would come as heroes but were in fact supporters of terrorism. (see related).