Italy Summons Israeli Ambassador Over Treatment of Aid Activists

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has summoned Israel’s ambassador in Rome after condemning the treatment of pro-Palestinian activists detained during Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

In a sharply worded statement on Wednesday, Meloni described footage showing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting the detainees as “unacceptable.”

“It is inadmissible that these demonstrators, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates human dignity,” she wrote.

While Meloni was among Israel’s strongest EU supporters after the October 2023 Hamas attacks, she has become increasingly critical of its actions in Gaza, describing the humanitarian situation as “unacceptable” and warning that Israel has gone beyond “the principle of proportionality.”

The Israeli ambassador will be asked to provide “formal clarifications,” while Rome demands the immediate release of Italian citizens arrested by Israel, according to the statement. Meloni also demanded an apology over the treatment of the demonstrators and “for the total contempt shown toward the explicit requests of the Italian Government.”

The diplomatic row erupted after Israeli forces intercepted a convoy of vessels that departed from Türkiye carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza. Around 430 activists from more than 40 countries were detained, some for days.

Ben-Gvir posted a video on X on Wednesday showing detainees kneeling with their hands bound. In the footage, the far-right minister appears to mock the activists while urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow them to remain imprisoned “for a long, long time.”

Netanyahu later sought to distance himself from the incident, saying Ben-Gvir’s conduct toward the activists “is not consistent with the values and norms of the State of Israel.” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Ben-Gvir “caused harm” to Israel with his “disgraceful display.”

In response, Ben-Gvir doubled down and accused Sa’ar of submitting to “supporters of terrorism.”

Israeli officials nevertheless defended the interception, describing the flotilla as a “PR stunt at the service of Hamas.”

The incident comes amid reports of rising settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Human rights groups have warned of growing lawlessness and impunity, accusing the Israeli authorities of enabling attacks by failing to prosecute perpetrators.