Italy and Spain call on the European Union to impose sanctions on Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, after he posted a video showing how foreign activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla are treated while in Israeli custody. Multiple reports say the activists were detained at sea and taken to the southern port of Ashdod while they await deportation. The video, published by Ben Gvir, depicts the activists being held and restrained, with critics describing the treatment as heavy-handed.
According to the accounts, the calls for EU action follow a wider international outcry over the imagery and circumstances of the detention. The Italian and Spanish governments’ position is presented as a demand for sanctions connected to the minister’s actions and the alleged mistreatment of the activists. The reports focus on the EU-level response being urged by Italy and Spain, rather than any specific measures already taken. They also note that the incident involves foreign nationals tied to the Gaza flotilla, which was attempting to reach Gaza by sea.
