Calls for Sanctions Against Israeli Minister Ben Gvir Over Harsh Treatment of Flotilla Activists

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has urged Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the European Union, to raise the issue of sanctions against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir during the forthcoming foreign ministers' discussion among member countries. Tajani condemned what he referred to as unacceptable acts against activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla, who were detained in international waters and faced harassment, violation of basic human rights, and humiliation. The outcry stemmed from a video released by Ben Gvir on Wednesday, which showed him walking indifferently amidst dozens of activists tied up and kneeling in a shed at the port of Ashdod, Israel. The footage sparked outrage and drew significant criticism from various governments, including that of Italy. Council President Giorgia Meloni characterized the scenes depicted in the video as 'unacceptable' and called for an official apology from the Israeli government. Similarly, President Sergio Mattarella condemned it as an 'uncivilized treatment' that represents a severe breach of human rights, especially given that the activists were illegally detained in international waters. In the wake of this situation, while some members of the Israeli government have distanced themselves from Ben Gvir, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they still emphasized Israel's right to detain activists associated with the Flotilla. Despite the backlash and escalating criticism, the notion of removing Ben Gvir from his position has yet to be considered. Ben Gvir holds a prominent role as the leader of the far-right Jewish Power Party, which is a key ally of Netanyahu's coalition alongside Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party. The situation continues to unfold, with many eyes on the EU's response and whether sanctions against Ben Gvir will materialize as a consequence of the incident. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2