Italy has summoned Israel’s ambassador and demanded an apology after far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was filmed mocking detained Gaza flotilla activists, including Italian citizens, who had been handcuffed, blindfolded and forced to kneel.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani issued a joint statement condemning the images as “unacceptable” and saying the treatment of the demonstrators violated human dignity. The Italian government said it was acting “at the highest institutional levels” to secure the immediate release of the Italian citizens involved.
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“The images of Israeli Minister Ben Gvir are unacceptable,” the statement said. “It is inadmissible that these demonstrators, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates human dignity.” Rome added that Israel must apologise for the treatment of the activists and for what it described as “total contempt” for Italy’s explicit requests.
Le immagini del ministro israeliano Ben Gvir sono inaccettabili. È inammissibile che questi manifestanti, fra cui molti cittadini italiani, vengano sottoposti a questo trattamento lesivo della dignità della persona.
