JAKARTA - Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has stressed that Israel has no right to humiliate the activists of the Global Sumud humanitarian fleet, whose ships were intercepted and detained by Tel Aviv authorities on their way to Gaza.
"I am angry. Israel has the right to defend itself, but it has no right to humiliate prisoners, helpless people who do not commit acts of violence and are not terrorists," Tajani told the Avvenire newspaper, Thursday, May 21, reported by ANTARA from Anadolu.
According to him, Israel must be able to distinguish between maintaining a naval blockade and "upholding one's dignity and safety".
Tajani added that Italy demanded an explanation from the Israeli government after national security chief Itamar Ben-Gvir uploaded a video on social media showing him mocking a pro-Palestinian activist whose hands were tied and forced to kneel, after being detained by Israeli forces in international waters.
"For us, this is already beyond the limit. I must emphasize to Israel that incidents like this will only further isolate Israel, even among its closest partners," said Tajani.
He reiterated that Italy would evaluate its political stance and assess what actions should be taken at the European level.
"Even those who disagree or consider the fleet movement as a provocative act cannot tolerate this treatment of unarmed civilians," Tajani said.
He also renewed Italy's call for the immediate repatriation of the prisoners, and underlined the possibility of imposing sanctions on Israel.
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