Countries condemn Israeli minister's treatment of Gaza flotilla activists

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

50% : Below are some national and international reactions to the footage posted on X by the minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, on Wednesday: EUROPEAN UNION European Council President Antonio Costa said he was "appalled" by Ben-Gvir's treatment of aid flotilla members attempting to enter Gaza.
47% : UNITED KINGDOM Britain summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires over the video, with its foreign ministry saying the content "violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity for people."
47% : Sanchez added that his government would push for Spain's ban on Ben-Gvir entering the country to be urgently extended across the European Union.
46% : Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Tajani demanded an apology for the activists' treatment and what they called Israel's "total disrespect" for Italy's requests.
42% : Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the interception of the flotilla but said Ben-Gvir's treatment of the activists was "not in line with Israel's values and norms".
42% : " NETHERLANDS The Netherlands will summon Israel's ambassador over what it called the "unacceptable" treatment of the activists.
37% : GREECE Greece urged Israel to release its detained nationals.
35% : Prime Minister Mark Carney later described Israel's treatment of the detained activists as "abominable" and "unacceptable.
34% : ITALY Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said EU foreign ministers should discuss imposing sanctions on Ben-Gvir at their next meeting for "unacceptable acts" including harassing and humiliating the activists.
34% : "No, you are not the face of Israel," Saar said in a post on X. IRAN Iran's foreign ministry spokesman condemned the video images, saying they recalled "the darkest echoes of history" and said Western silence over what he called occupation, apartheid and genocide risked normalising "lawlessness and atrocity.
32% : Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said the images were "shocking", adding he had raised the matter with Israel's foreign minister.
31% : Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticised Ben-Gvir over the treatment of the activists, saying he had harmed Israel in a "disgraceful display" and undermined the work of Israeli soldiers and diplomats.
26% : May 21 (Reuters) - Israel faced mounting international criticism after its national security minister released a video showing detained Gaza flotilla activists kneeling with their hands bound following the interception of aid vessels in international waters.
14% : ISRAEL The backlash also prompted criticism within Israel.
14% : THE UNITED STATES U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticised Ben-Gvir over the treatment of the detained activists, saying that while the flotilla was a "stupid stunt," Ben-Gvir had "betrayed the dignity" of Israel with his handling of the detainees.

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