Greece’s foreign ministry on Wednesday condemned Israel’s far-right national security minister for apparently mocking activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla detained by Israeli forces.
“The conduct of the Israeli Minister of National Security, which targeted citizens participating in the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” is unacceptable and absolutely condemnable,” the ministry said in a statement.
The statement called on Israel to “immediately release” detained Greek citizens and said a formal protest had been lodged at the instruction of Foreign MInister Giorgos Gerapetritis.
The video footage shared on X by firebrand minister Itamar Ben Gvir shows dozens of activists on the deck of a military boat kneeling with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground.
It was published after Israeli forces on Monday intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla at sea and detained hundreds of foreign activists at the southern port of Ashdod.
Greek activists who were part of the flotilla of around 50 vessels aiming to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza have said 19 Greeks were detained in the operation.
Hamas, which controls under half of Gaza and whose attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 sparked the war in the Palestinian territory, condemned the footage, as did several other European governments.
Source: AFP