Israel triggered international condemnation on Wednesday after online video footages showing Israeli security forces roughly treating participants of a flotilla that tried to deliver aids to Gaza.
Footages released by Global Sumud Flotilla showed that armed personnel roughly boarded the ship and participants of the vessel were forced to leave.
Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also posted video of the incident showing that members on the ship were forced to kneel with their heads to the ground, some with their hands bound, while Ben-Gvir waved an Israeli flag and mocked the participants.
Later the day, Ben-Gvir said he asked Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow him to detain the team members. Netanyahu said he had ordered their deportation.
Following the release of video footages, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani issued a joint statement on Wednesday, calling the treatment of the participants, including Italian citizens, "unacceptable." She said that such treatment violates human dignity.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that he had summoned Israel's ambassador in France to express the country's indignation towards Israel and demand an explanation. Barrot also called Ben-Gvirs' actions unacceptable.
Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee said she was shocked by the incident, saying that participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla were not treated with dignity and respect.
Greece's Foreign Ministry also condemned Ben-Gvir's treatment of detained Greek citizens, calling it unacceptable and absolutely deserving of condemnation. It said Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis had instructed officials to made a demarche to the Israeli authorities, urging Israel to respect international humanitarian law and human rights and calling for the immediate release of the Greek nationals.
Canada and the Netherlands also issued statements condemning Israel's conduct.
The participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla were intercepted en route to Gaza, where Israel has repeatedly blocked aid shipments amid the ongoing conflict.
International community condemns Israel's treatment of flotilla participants
