Italy, Ireland and Spain Urge EU Sanctions on Ben Gvir Over Video of 430 Detained Activists
Updated
Updated · Euronews · May 21
Italy, Ireland and Spain Urge EU Sanctions on Ben Gvir Over Video of 430 Detained Activists
7 articles · Updated · Euronews · May 21
Italy, Ireland and Spain pushed the EU to act against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir after he posted footage of Gaza-bound flotilla activists kneeling with bound hands at Ashdod port.
The calls followed a global backlash over the video, which showed dozens of detainees with foreheads to the ground after Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla at sea and moved some of its 430 activists to Israel.
Italy called the treatment “unacceptable” and “intolerable,” while a leaked letter showed Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin urging discussion in June on steps including banning settlement products and suspending parts of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Poland said it would seek to bar Ben Gvir from entering the country, and the episode also drew rare public criticism inside Israel from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar.
The flotilla had sailed from Turkey to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where war since October 2023 has deepened shortages of food, medicine and other essentials.
Will global condemnation translate into real consequences for Israel's far-right minister?
Can Israel's strategy of 'ex gratia' payments repair its international standing while the Gaza blockade remains?
Are Gaza-bound flotillas genuine humanitarian aid or just political theater?
The 2026 Global Sumud Flotilla Crisis: Israel’s Interception, Humanitarian Implications, and Escalating Diplomatic Tensions
Overview
On May 20, 2026, the Israeli Navy intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, detaining all 430 activists and bringing them to Ashdod port. At the detention facility, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was seen taunting and humiliating the activists, calling them 'terrorist sympathizers' and accusing them of aiding Hamas. His actions drew widespread criticism for being provocative and undignified. Activists reported abuse, including verbal and physical intimidation, confiscation of belongings, and denial of legal or consular access. These events led human rights organizations to demand an independent investigation into the treatment of the detainees.