EU Criticizes Ben-Gvir's Actions Against Global Sumud Flotilla Volunteers, Will There Be Sanctions?

JAKARTA - The actions of the right-wing Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir who mocked the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian activists, triggered a new call for him to face EU sanctions.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir uploaded a video showing him mocking the detained activists in a kneeling position with his head touching the ground, while his hands were handcuffed behind his back, on his X social media account, with the caption "welcome to Israel."

A total of 430 humanitarian activities from various countries were detained and brought to Israel, after their boats were intercepted in international waters near Sipurs earlier this week, while trying to break through Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he had asked EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas to put sanctions on the agenda of the bloc's next meeting on June 15.

Tajini accused Ben-Gvir of "unacceptable actions against the fleet, detaining activists in international waters and subjecting them to harassment and humiliation, which violate the most basic human rights," reported The National (22/5).

Videos of Israeli authorities' treatment of humanitarian activists have "accelerated" the atmosphere at the EU level to take action against Israel, said Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin. There is "great anger" throughout the EU over the videos of the treatment of Gaza aid flotilla demonstrators, which he said had "shocked the world."

Global Sumud Flotilla activists were deported to Istanbul, Turkey on Thursday, before continuing their journey back to their respective countries, including nine Indonesian citizens (WNI) who were part of this humanitarian fleet.

This is the first time Italy has publicly called for sanctions against Ben-Gvir at the EU level, which requires the unanimous support of the bloc's 27 member states.

Italy in the past has generally blocked European Commission proposals for sanctions or restrictions on trade relations with Israel.

This move comes after Itamar Ben-Gvir's actions were harshly criticized by EU countries. Several European leaders, as well as the United Kingdom, said they would call their respective ambassadors to Israel.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel said Ben-Gvir's behavior reflected "a profound lack of respect, dignity and humanity among members of the government."

"Until when will we continue to tolerate this kind of behavior from politicians?" he said.

With many Italians on board, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was among the first in Europe to react and demand an apology.

Others were more cautious. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his counterpart from Austria, Beate Meini-Reisinger, condemned both the activists of the fleet and Ben-Gvir.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he was "grateful" to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar for also condemning Ben-Gvir's behavior, which he described as "fundamentally" at odds with "the values that Germany and Israel want to defend together".

At home, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar criticized Ben-Gvir's actions.

"Israel has the full right to prevent the provocative flotilla of Hamas terrorists from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza. However, the way Minister Ben-Gvir handled the flotilla activists does not conform to Israeli values and norms," Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized.

"I have instructed the relevant authorities to deport the provocateurs as soon as possible," he added.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Sa'ar in a post on his personal X gave a sharper rebuke to Ben-Gvir, which was also shared by the official account of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"You deliberately caused damage to the state with this shameful appearance, and not for the first time," Sa'ar wrote, addressed to Ben Gvir.

"You have wasted the great, professional, and successful efforts of many people - from the IDF soldiers to the employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and many other great individuals," he criticized.

"No, you are not the face of Israel," Sa'ar said.

As an overseer of Israel's prison system, Ben-Gvir has in the past boasted about the worsening treatment of Palestinians in prison, and has made provocative visits to the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.

He was also behind the passing of a law on capital punishment aimed at Palestinians, which he celebrated by opening a bottle of champagne in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in March.

However, Ben-Gvir's provocations in the past have not triggered as much international outrage as the mockery of European activists heading to Gaza.

Together with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a right-wing politician, Ben-Gvir has long been described as an "extremist" in Brussels, but there is little appetite to sanction either of them at EU level.

It was a step recommended by the European Commission in September among several other proposals to Israel amid the Gaza war. All proposals were postponed the following month after a ceasefire was agreed in Gaza.

The imposition of sanctions on individuals requires the unanimous support of the 27 EU member states. This does not seem likely in the case of the two Israeli ministers.

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka on Wednesday promised during Foreign Minister Saar's visit to continue to block any attempt to suspend, in part or in whole, the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

Israel violated the agreement, according to the EU's external action service, which last year found its human rights clauses had been violated in Gaza.

With decision-making paralyzed in Brussels, several EU members such as Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium have moved forward unilaterally and banned Ben-Gvir and Smotrich from visiting their territories. Outside the EU, the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have issued similar bans.

Another proposal put forward by the European Commission is to suspend preferential trade tariffs with Israel, which would lead to increased costs for Israel to export products to Europe.

This requires a qualified majority vote, but faces opposition from Italy and Germany.

At their last meeting in Brussels, 27 EU foreign ministers agreed to impose sanctions on a number of Israeli extremist settlers known for harassing Palestinians, but they have not been named.

It is the first time in more than two years such an agreement has been made because of Hungary's previous veto, which has been lifted after a change of government.

France and Sweden have asked the European Commission to focus on trade restrictions with Israel's illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Commission has so far not put forward any proposals.

Spain and Slovenia last year moved ahead unilaterally with the bans, highlighting the opinion of International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisers calling on countries to refrain from economic or trade transactions with Israeli settlements.