Italy has summoned Israel’s ambassador and demanded an apology after far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was filmed mocking detained Gaza flotilla activists, including Italian citizens, who had been handcuffed, blindfolded and forced to kneel.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani issued a joint statement condemning the images as “unacceptable” and saying the treatment of the demonstrators violated human dignity. The Italian government said it was acting “at the highest institutional levels” to secure the immediate release of the Italian citizens involved.
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“The images of Israeli Minister Ben Gvir are unacceptable,” the statement said. “It is inadmissible that these demonstrators, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates human dignity.” Rome added that Israel must apologise for the treatment of the activists and for what it described as “total contempt” for Italy’s explicit requests.
Le immagini del ministro israeliano Ben Gvir sono inaccettabili. È inammissibile che questi manifestanti, fra cui molti cittadini italiani, vengano sottoposti a questo trattamento lesivo della dignità della persona.
Il Governo italiano sta immediatamente compiendo, ai più alti…— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) May 20, 2026
The Italian Foreign Ministry said it would immediately summon the Israeli ambassador to request formal clarifications over what had happened. The diplomatic protest marks one of the sharpest public interventions by Meloni’s government since Israel intercepted the latest Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla.
The incident followed Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which had set sail from southern Turkiye in an attempt to challenge Israel’s naval blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Around 430 activists from 40 countries are said to have been detained and transferred to the Israeli port of Ashdod before being taken to Ketziot prison in the Negev.
Ben-Gvir met the detained activists after their transfer and called them “terrorists”, demanding that they be imprisoned for a long period. Videos showed detainees handcuffed and kneeling, while some activists and legal organisations alleged mistreatment during and after the seizure. Israel said no live ammunition was used during the operation, though activists alleged that their boats were fired upon.
ככה אנחנו מקבלים את תומכי הטרור
Welcome to Israel 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/7Hf8cAg7fC
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 20, 2026
The flotilla organisers have described the seizure as unlawful and said the activists were taken against their will while attempting to reach Gaza with humanitarian supplies. Israel has defended the interception by claiming it was enforcing its naval blockade, which it says is necessary for security. Rights groups and flotilla supporters argue that the blockade amounts to collective punishment of Gaza’s more than two million Palestinians.
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