{
    "title": "Israel flotilla video sparks wider diplomatic row across Europe",
    "modified_at": "2026-05-21 07:13:57",
    "published_at": "2026-05-21 07:10:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/israel-flotilla-video-sparks-wider-diplomatic-row-across-europe",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/XlHd",
    "culture": "en_BE",
    "language": "EN",
    "slug": "israel-flotilla-video-sparks-wider-diplomatic-row-across-europe",
    "body": "<p><strong>Several European governments have condemned Israel after footage showed detained Gaza flotilla activists bound and forced to kneel following their arrest by Israeli forces.</strong></p><p>The activists were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy carrying aid to Gaza that sailed from Turkey last week in an attempt to challenge Israel&rsquo;s blockade of the territory.</p><p>The controversy began after Israeli National Security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared a video online showing detainees kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs. The footage triggered strong reactions across Europe and beyond.</p><p>Belgian Foreign minister Maxime Prevot <a href=\"http://prez.ly/KkHd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">called the scenes</a> &ldquo;unacceptable&rdquo; and summoned Israel&rsquo;s ambassador, noting that Belgian citizens were among those detained.</p><p>France, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Ireland and Italy also criticised the treatment of the activists. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni demanded the immediate release of Italian citizens and described the treatment as a violation of human dignity.</p><p>British foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said she was &ldquo;truly appalled&rdquo; by the footage, while Australia, New Zealand and South Korea also condemned Israel&rsquo;s actions.</p><div id=\"bookmark-1776a6a6-0d5b-4693-93a1-48d8f8ddaca9\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"http://prez.ly/KkHd\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F32d756a2-ddca-40a8-b59a-97759c216a29%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=958e06c4385b2a01e6c25b0800918596)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"http://prez.ly/KkHd\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"1776a6a6-0d5b-4693-93a1-48d8f8ddaca9\"\n           >\n                Belgium summons Israeli ambassador over &quot;very disturbing&quot; images of Gaza flotilla activists            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                Belgian foreign minister Maxime Pr\u00e9vot (Les Engag\u00e9s) has summoned the Israeli ambassador following what he described as \u201cvery disturbing\u201d images...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Fbelgium-summons-israeli-ambassador-over-very-disturbing-images-of-gaza-flotilla-activists&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<p>Rights group Adalah said detainees reported physical and psychological abuse, including beatings, stress positions and sexual humiliation. Lawyers said several activists suffered injuries, including suspected broken ribs.</p><p>Israel intercepted the flotilla in international waters on Tuesday and brought more than 400 activists from around 40 countries to Ashdod port.</p><p>Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised Ben-Gvir&rsquo;s actions, saying the treatment shown in the video &ldquo;is not in line with Israel&rsquo;s values and norms&rdquo;. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa&rsquo;ar also accused Ben-Gvir of damaging Israel&rsquo;s international reputation.</p><div class=\"release-content-embed release-content-embed--rich release-content-embed--contained\" id=\"embed-3a646b38-2f6c-41c9-ab67-b3a5a8afe0c2\"><div style=\"max-width: 550px;\"><div style=\"left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;\"><iframe data-iframely-url=\"https://iframely.net/api/iframe?app=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Feucopresident%2Fstatus%2F2057273173024841742%23_cb1779344034&key=8fe6cdec03482ac31f27a6ae8ea2fb3f\" style=\"top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;\" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><script async src=\"https://iframely.net/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script></div><p>Ben-Gvir defended his actions, saying Israel was &ldquo;no longer a pushover&rdquo;.</p><p>The flotilla was the <a href=\"http://prez.ly/sWGd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">latest international effort</a> to deliver aid to Gaza, where severe shortages of food, medicine and clean water continue during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: left\"><sup>Israel&#039;s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir &copy; Ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP</sup></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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    "links": [
        {
            "description": "Belgium summons Israeli ambassador over \"very disturbing\" images of Gaza flotilla activists",
            "url": "http://prez.ly/KkHd"
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    ],
    "author": {
        "first_name": "Flanders",
        "last_name": "News Service"
    },
    "format_version": 5
}