UK, Germany and Greece join condemnations of Israeli treatment of flotilla activists

Germany, the UK and Greece all join in condemning far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s treatment of detained activists on an intercepted Gaza-bound flotilla, after he published a video flaunting their detention.

Germany’s ambassador to Israel calls the treatment “wholly unacceptable.”

“It is good to hear many Israeli voices — including the foreign minister — call out in all clarity Minister Ben Gvir’s treatment of the detainees for what it is: wholly unacceptable and incompatible with the basic values of our countries,” Steffen Seibert writes on X.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both sharply criticized Ben Gvir over the video.

British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper says she is “truly appalled” by the video.

In a statement on X, Cooper says Britain is in contact with the families of several British nationals involved and is providing consular support.

“We have demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities and made clear their obligations to protect the rights of our citizens and all those involved,” Cooper says.

Greece’s foreign ministry says in a statement that “the conduct of the Israeli Minister of National Security, which targeted citizens participating in the ‘Global Sumud Flotilla,’ is unacceptable and absolutely condemnable.”

The statement calls on Israel to “immediately release” detained Greek citizens and says a formal protest has been lodged at the instruction of Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis.