Foreign ministries of 10 countries summon Israeli ambassadors after Ben-Gvir's video

The foreign ministries of 10 countries have summoned  Israel's  ambassadors and representatives to protest the abuse of the detainees of the "Global Resilience Flotilla", according to a video showing extremist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir supervising it.

The official Israeli broadcaster said on Thursday, May 21, that  the number of countries whose foreign ministries summoned Israel's ambassadors and representatives in their capitals for questioning after the publication of Ben Gvir's video has risen to 9 countries, namely: New Zealand, Canada, Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain and Australia, according to the broadcaster.

Diplomatic sources later confirmed that Britain had summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires in London over the mistreatment of the "Steadfastness Flotilla" activists.

EU: Treatment of activists unacceptable

The European Union said in a statement on Thursday that the treatment of the flotilla activists in the video released by Ben-Gvir was "completely unacceptable" and added that "every detainee should have been treated with safety and dignity and in accordance with international law."

The EU called on the Israeli government to "ensure that these activists, including a number of EU citizens, are protected and treated with dignity, with the need for the immediate release of all."

 On  Wednesday evening, US Ambassador to Tel Aviv Mike Huckabee tried to portray Ben Gvir's actions as an individual act rather than an official systematic Israeli policy, saying  in a post on the "X" platform: "Global condemnation and condemnation from all high-ranking Israeli officials of Ben Gvir's outrageous actions," and distributed that "the Freedom Flotilla was just a foolish ploy, but Ben Gvir betrayed the dignity of his nation."

Huqooq Center: Documenting sexual insults and electric shocks

The Arab Center for Human Rights Adalah in Israel reported documenting acts of extreme violence, "sexual insults," electric shocks and breaking ribs against detainees of the "Steadfastness Flotilla" activists by Israeli forces.

According to the testimonies of the flotilla activists, "they were subjected to severe insults, harassment and humiliation of a sexual nature, and the Israeli authorities forcibly removed the hijab from participants," according to PCHR.

According to the flotilla organizers, the Israeli military intervened against all of its roughly 50 boats, carrying 428 activists from 44 countries, including 78 Turkish citizens.

The crime was widely condemned by human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, which described it as a "shameful and inhumane act".

Israel has on several occasions previously seized aid boats in international waters bound for Gaza, some belonging to the Resilience Flotilla campaigns, and detained the activists before later deporting them.