At least 87 activists, who were abducted by Israeli forces from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, have begun a hunger strike.
Italy and France have summoned the Israeli ambassadors to express their “indignation” over Israel’s “unacceptable” treatment of the abducted Gaza flotilla activists, according to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.
The condemnation came on Wednesday, shortly after Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir published a video on social media, in which he was seen taunting the activists as they knelt on the floor with their hands tied.
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“The images of Israeli Minister Ben Gvir are unacceptable. It is unacceptable that these protesters, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates their human dignity,” Meloni said in a statement on X.
Barrot also denounced Ben-Gvir’s actions as “unacceptable”, calling for the release of French citizens “as soon as possible”.
South Korean citizens were also among those abducted by Israeli naval forces, President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday, calling Israel’s actions “way out of line”.
“What is the legal basis? Is it Israeli territorial waters?” Lee questioned, adding: “Is that Israeli land? If there is conflict, can they seize and detain third-country vessels?”
Portugal also condemned the “intolerable behavior” of Ben-Gvir.
“Portugal strongly condemns the intolerable behavior of the Israeli Minister Ben Gvir and the treatment inflicted on the flotilla activists in a humiliating violation of human dignity,” the country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X.
“The Portuguese Government has been in permanent contact with the Israeli authorities to ensure the immediate release of national citizens, with guarantees of protection, which now becomes even more urgent,” it said, adding that a formal protest would be issued during a meeting with the Israeli charge d’affaires at the ministry later on Wednesday.
Hunger strike
Earlier on Wednesday, the Global Sumud Flotilla said on X that at least 87 people abducted by Israeli forces from an aid flotilla bound for Gaza began a hunger strike “in protest of their illegal abduction and in solidarity with the over 9,500 Palestinian hostages held in Israeli dungeons”.
Late on Tuesday evening, Israeli forces “kidnapped” six people on board the Lina al-Nabulsi boat, organisers said.
The boat was the last in a group of more than 50 vessels that left Turkiye’s port city of Marmaris last week to sail towards Gaza, with the goal of breaking Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed late on Tuesday that its forces were taking hundreds of flotilla participants to Israel.
“Another PR flotilla has come to an end. All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli vessels and are making their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives,” a ministry spokesman said, calling the effort “nothing more than a PR stunt.”
Israeli forces began overtaking the vessels in international waters off the coast of Cyprus on Monday, organisers said, where they raided boats, allegedly fired rubber bullets and abducted participants.
The prisoners included nine Indonesian citizens, a spokesperson for Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday. Indonesia called for the immediate release of all vessels and said that “every diplomatic channel and consular measure will continue to be fully utilised”.
About 15 Irish citizens, including Margaret Connolly, a doctor and the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, were among those being held.
Countries including Turkiye, Spain, Jordan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Indonesia, Colombia, Libya, and the Maldives denounced the Israeli interceptions as “blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law”.
