PARIS, May 20, 2026 (WAFA) – France and Italy on Wednesday protested the Israeli occupation authorities’ treatment of the abducted Gaza-bound Global Sumud flotilla activists.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called the way the humanitarian flotilla activists were handled "unacceptable", announcing that Israel's ambassador to France would be summoned.

“The actions of Mr. (National Security Minister Itamar) Ben-Gvir toward the passengers of the Global Sumud flotilla, condemned even by his own colleagues in the Israeli government, are unacceptable,” Barrot said on US social media company X.

He added that “our citizens participating in it must be treated with respect and released as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described Wednesday as “unacceptable.”

“What is revealed in Minister Ben Gvir’s video is absolutely unacceptable and runs counter to the most basic principles of human dignity,” Foreign Minister Tajani posted on X.

“In consultation with the Prime Minister, I have summoned the Israeli Ambassador to Italy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately,” he added.

Rome demanded an apology over the treatment of activists and what it described as disregard for its explicit requests.

Hundreds of members from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla were brought to Israel's Ashdod Port on Wednesday, as Ben-Gvir released a video showing some of them shackled and forced to the ground.

In the video, dozens of activists are shown kneeling on the floor, bent forward with their heads down and hands bound behind their backs with zip ties, as the Israeli national anthem is played loudly over speakers.

Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said Israeli naval vessels intercepted all ships in the convoy in international waters, about 250 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. According to the organizers, 428 activists were abducted by Israel after the interception began on Monday morning.

K.F.