The U.K. government on Thursday joined a growing number of countries condemning Israel’s far-right national security minister over a video showing him involved in degrading treatment of pro-Palestinian flotilla activists in the custody of Israeli forces.
In a statement, the British government said it was summoning Israel’s chargé d’affaires «following the inflammatory video» that emerged of Itamar Ben-Gvir mocking the activists.
Ben-Gvir, a government minister who has been sanctioned by U.S. allies for inciting violence against Palestinians, is seen in one clip that he posted on social media walking among some of the approximately 430 detained Sumud Global Flotilla activists with police and soldiers.
He can be seen waving a large Israeli flag and telling some of the activists, «Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords.»
In another video, Ben-Gvir says the activists «came here all full of pride like big heroes. Look at them now.»
The British government said his behavior «violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity for people,» and added that it was «deeply concerned by the detention conditions depicted and have demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities.»
The U.K. joins the European Union, Italy, Poland, France, Canada and multiple other countries in condemning the actions of Ben-Gvir and the treatment of the detained activists. Several countries have summoned the Israeli ambassadors in their capitals, and Spain’s government has said it will push for an existing ban on Ben-Gvir entering the country to be extended across the European Union.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the detention of the activists on Wednesday, but he rebuked Ben-Gvir, saying the cabinet member’s behavior was «not in line with Israel’s values and norms.»
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Ben-Gvir had «betrayed the dignity» of Israel in his treatment of the detainees.
Israel began deporting some of the hundreds of detained activists on Thursday.
