Several European countries summoned Israeli diplomats and condemned the treatment of detained Gaza flotilla activists Wednesday after videos surfaced showing far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting handcuffed detainees illegally detained in international waters while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza and break Israel's unlawful blockade.
Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares described the scenes as "monstrous, disgraceful and inhumane," while France and Italy demanded explanations from Israeli authorities over the treatment of their citizens aboard the flotilla.
The backlash followed the circulation of videos filmed after Israeli forces intercepted dozens of boats from the Global Sumud flotilla in international waters off Cyprus earlier this week.
One video showed detainees kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs as Ben-Gvir waved an Israeli flag and declared: "Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords." Another activist shouting "Free Palestine" was pushed to the ground by security personnel as the minister walked past.
In another clip, Ben-Gvir urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to imprison the activists "for a long, long time" in what he called "terrorist prisons."
