ROME – Italy has formally asked the European Union to sanction Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir following the abuses committed against Freedom Flotilla activists who were stopped in international waters during their pro-Palestinian mission and then subjected to mistreatment and harassment by Israeli authorities, as seen in videos circulated online, including one published by Ben-Gvir himself (which can be seen further below in this article). The announcement came directly from Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who used the platform X to communicate the diplomatic move (here below).
A nome del Governo italiano ho appena formalmente chiesto all’Alto Rappresentante @kajakallas di includere nella prossima discussione dei Ministri degli Esteri UE l’adozione di sanzioni contro il Ministro per la sicurezza nazionale israeliano Ben-Gvir per gli inaccettabili atti…
— Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) May 21, 2026
“In the name of the Italian government, I have just formally asked High Representative Kaja Kallas to include in the next discussion among EU Foreign Ministers the adoption of sanctions against Israeli National Security Minister Ben-Gvir for the unacceptable acts committed against the Flotilla, by seizing activists in international waters and subjecting them to harassment and humiliation, violating the most basic human rights,” wrote the head of Italy’s Foreign Ministry, echoing the deep indignation already expressed yesterday by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (“unacceptable, inadmissible”) and President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella (“uncivilized, of the lowest level”).
The Italian government’s strong position was further detailed by Tajani himself in an interview with the Italian newspaper Avvenire (here). The minister clarified that “there will be political consequences” regarding what happened at the Israeli port where the activists had been taken after being intercepted by Tel Aviv’s forces (as seen in Ben-Gvir’s video). In the same interview, Tajani stressed that “Netanyahu has partially distanced himself from Ben-Gvir,” reiterating that while “Israel must defend its citizens,” Italy hopes “that the next Israeli Government, whatever it is, will take more account than in the recent past of the need to prevent abuse, provocation, violence against the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza as well as in the West Bank, including Christians, that in the Middle East are a voice of peace.”
A couple of days earlier, Tajani had already shared, in English and French, his own and Italy’s position regarding the situation in the Middle East through foreign press channels. His statement was published by CNMNG News (here).
Meanwhile, Rome’s Mobile Squad police officers will question the 29 Italian Flotilla activists. The complaint already filed by the legal team alleges the crime of kidnapping. Among the Italian activists is also Dario Carotenuto, a member of Parliament from the Five Star Movement (M5S), who was aboard the Flotilla and detained by Israel along with the others. After returning to Italy, he began recounting what had happened. “I received a punch to the eye that blinded me for a while. But I saw people with ear and eye injuries. And I heard women reporting sexual violence. We are very worried about the activists who are still there, and we do not know what they are enduring.”
Carotenuto was aboard the Kasr-i Salabad in international waters and was heading toward Egypt: “They forced us to sign documents containing false statements,” the M5S deputy told journalists. Upon arriving back in Italy, he recounted the events together with Il Fatto Quotidiano correspondent Alessandro Mantovani: both showed the numbered red wristband placed on them by Israeli soldiers (here the article of the Italian newspaper).
Carney: “The treatment reserved for activists heading to Gaza is abominable”
OTTAWA – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also strongly condemned Israel’s treatment of the activists aboard the flotilla bound for Gaza, describing it as “abominable.” The issue has therefore erupted in Canada as well, following the release of videos showing the activists detained in degrading conditions: forced to kneel in rows, with their hands tied behind their backs and heads lowered, in a makeshift detention area at the port of Ashdod or aboard the seized vessels.
The incident triggered a strong diplomatic reaction in the North American country. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand described the images as “deeply concerning and absolutely unacceptable” and stated that Ottawa is acting urgently. The Canadian government summoned the Israeli ambassador and requested immediate guarantees regarding the safety and treatment of the Canadian citizens involved, at least 12 according to Canadian authorities, as reported by CBC (here).
Meanwhile, the now-infamous video (here below) released by Israeli National Security Minister Ben-Gvir further aggravated the diplomatic crisis. In the footage, Ben-Gvir appears addressing the activists provocatively, waving an Israeli flag and suggesting they should remain in prison “for a very, very long time.” In another sequence, he walks among the detainees mockingly while one activist shouts “Free Palestine” before being pushed to the ground by security forces.
ככה אנחנו מקבלים את תומכי הטרור
Welcome to Israel 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/7Hf8cAg7fC
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 20, 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself from these actions, stating that Ben-Gvir’s behavior does not reflect the values and norms of the State of Israel, while reaffirming that Israel has the right to stop flotillas bound for Gaza, which it considers provocative and linked to Hamas supporters.
The case has generated major international repercussions. Besides Canada, Italy, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom have also summoned Israeli ambassadors or issued formal protests, describing the treatment of detained civilians as unacceptable. The European Union and several foreign ministers have also called for the rapid release of the citizens involved or, at minimum, guarantees regarding their treatment.
At the same time, Israeli human rights legal organizations accused the authorities of abuse, humiliation, and degrading treatment of the activists, arguing that this reflects conduct already seen in previous similar missions without adequate international accountability.
Israel, for its part, maintains that the flotilla was intercepted in international waters using non-lethal means and without injuries, and denies the use of live ammunition against the vessels. According to Israeli authorities, the operation was necessary to enforce the naval blockade on Gaza, in place since 2007 and intensified after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack.
The flotilla organizers and several critical governments, however, argue that the interception in international waters and the treatment of the activists constitute a violation of international law and a form of collective punishment against Gaza. Some countries, including Turkey, and Palestinian groups have described the Israeli operation as an act of “piracy.”
In the pics at the top of the article: two frames from the video published on Twitter by Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir; Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (Twitter/X – @Antonio_Tajani), and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (Twitter/X – @MarkJCarney)