The video, which extremist Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir proudly revealed on his personal social media account this week, humiliating some 400 international flotilla activists from 40 nations, has triggered worldwide condemnation and outrage, even from different members of Israel’s personal authorities.
Notably, however not surprisingly, there was a calculated silence from some EU leaders, particularly EU Fee president Ursula von der Leyen.
Within the video, Ben-Gvir waves a big Israeli flag over the certain activists and heckles them, at one level stating in Hebrew: “Welcome to Israel. We’re the landlords.”
Studies a day later point out three activists from the flotilla had been hospitalised after alleged assaults by Israeli safety forces and later discharged, whereas a number of others are believed to have suffered severe accidents.
“The workforce studies systemic violations of due course of, and widespread bodily and psychological abuse by Israeli authorities,” the rights group Adalah, which represents a few of these detained, stated in an announcement. There have been “a lot of complaints of utmost violence”.
EU Council president Antonio Costa stated that he was “appalled” by the therapy of flotilla members by the Israeli minister. “This behaviour is totally unacceptable,” he stated.
EU’s prime diplomat Kalla Kallas additionally described the occasion as “unacceptable”, calling on the Israeli authorities to adjust to worldwide legislation – in a brief assertion of simply 67 phrases.
Silence from von der Leyen
Notably absent from the refrain of major EU leaders was EU Fee president Ursula von der Leyen, who as of writing has but to subject an announcement.
However even the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, described Ben-Gvir’s video as “despicable”.
For his half, Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez stated he would deliver the difficulty to Brussels and check out (once more) to persuade EU leaders to put Ben-Gvir below the EU’s sanctions regime.
Ben-Gvir is already banned from getting into Spain.
Eire equally expressed deep shock. “The Israeli authorities ‘s actions are in breach of worldwide legislation and I intend to boost this subject at EU degree,” stated the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin.
At this level, the query many are asking themselves is when this countless condemnation will translate into some concrete motion.
The concept to punish Ben-Gvir and different members of the Israeli authorities is much from new. But it surely has by no means materialised.
Blacklisting Israeli ministers Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, who’ve brazenly known as for the extermination of Gaza civilians, would require unanimity, which stays unattainable as a result of vetoes by Israel’s major EU allies – principally Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy and the Czech Republic.
In August 2024, former EU prime diplomat Josep Borrell proposed sanctions towards Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for “hate messages towards the Palestinians”. However there was no urge for food again then to take any measures, favouring dialogue as an alternative.
The fee formally put ahead the proposal to place Ben-Gvir and Smotrich below a visa-ban and asset freeze in September 2025. This was vetoed by Hungary.
In distinction, June 2025 noticed the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway impose sanctions on Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, accusing them of repeatedly encouraging violence towards Palestinian communities within the West Financial institution.
In response to this week’s already notorious video, Canadian PM Mark Carney stated: “The abominable therapy of civilians aboard the flotilla, together with that which is documented in footage shared by Itamar Ben-Gvir, is unacceptable… The safety of civilians and respect for human dignity have to be upheld all over the place, always.”
The episode even touched the nerves of Austria and Italy, traditionally an ally of Netanyahu.
“We had already urged the Israeli aspect on a number of events upfront to train the utmost restraint in coping with the help flotilla and to adjust to worldwide legislation,” stated Austrian minister of international affairs, pointing on the market had been three individuals from Austria stay in custody.
‘Complete contempt’
However prime minister Giorgia Meloni went even additional, accusing Israel of “whole contempt” towards the Italian authorities and demanding an official apology alongside the quick launch of 29 detained Italian residents.
EU ministers are anticipated to debate commerce measures towards Israel on Friday (22 Might) throughout a gathering in Brussels, together with a possible ban on imports from Israeli settlers within the West Financial institution and adjustments to the EU-Israel commerce settlement.
For months, Italy and Germany have been blocking efforts by some EU nations, akin to Spain, Eire, and Slovenia, to droop (even when partially) the EU-Israel Affiliation Settlement.
If Italy had been to shift its place, the political panorama in Brussels might basically change, isolating Germany and opening the door for the EU to formally droop or situation its commerce cope with Israel.
After years of impasse, EU nations lastly agreed to sanction violent Israeli settlers within the West Financial institution earlier this month – because of the change of presidency in Hungary.
Might this episode lastly push EU nations to behave?
