The European Commission says the treatment of Gaza flotilla activists shown in a video released by Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is “completely unacceptable.” A spokesperson for the Commission, Anouar El Anouni, states that every detained person must be treated with safety and dignity and in line with international law. The Commission calls on the Israeli government to ensure the protection and dignified treatment of the activists featured in the footage, including “several EU citizens.”
The Commission’s statement responds to the video’s depiction of how the activists are handled after their detention, as highlighted by Ben-Gvir. The EU’s position emphasizes legal and humanitarian standards for detainees rather than specific operational details. The Commission does not provide further findings in its statement beyond characterizing the conduct as unacceptable and urging Israel to safeguard the detainees’ rights and treatment. The statement is framed as a demand for compliance with international law and protection of EU citizens held among the activists.
