Official Rome escalates clash with Tel Aviv after mistreatment of Sumud Flotilla activists

Italy has officially asked the European Union to impose sanctions on the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, after the incidents related to the detention of Freedom Flotilla activists in international waters.

The request was made public by the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, who stated that Rome has asked the EU’s high representative for foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, to put the issue on the agenda. of the upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of the union.

According to Tajani, the behavior of the Israeli authorities towards the international activists constitutes a “violation of basic human rights”, while he particularly condemned the publication by Ben Gvir of a video where the activists appeared kneeling, with their hands tied and under public ridicule.

Italian diplomacy considers this an unacceptable and degrading act, which has increased tensions between Rome and the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

The video published on social networks by Ben Gvir has already been examined by the Rome Prosecutor’s Office, which has opened investigations into the treatment of Italian and international activists detained during the Israeli operation against the flotilla.

Italian investigators are expected to analyze the film materials and the testimonies of the activists returned to Italy, among them the MP of the Five Star Movement, Dario Carotenuto, as well as the journalist Alessandro Mantovani.

Both have confessed to the Italian media that during the detention they were beaten, handcuffed and kept in inhumane conditions. Mantovani stated that he had seen people with serious injuries and suspected broken ribs and arms, while he said that Israeli soldiers exercised physical violence against almost all of the detainees.

Carotenuto also spoke of degrading treatment, claiming that he was kept for hours in cold premises and then transported as a “criminal” to the airport.

Meanwhile, legal organizations representing activists have filed a lawsuit in Italy with accusations of kidnapping, torture and violations of international law. It is not excluded that the investigation will expand to more serious charges, including attempted murder and sexual violence, based on the evidence being collected from the participants of the flotilla.

In recent developments, the Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed that all flotilla activists, including Italian citizens, have left Israel on charter flights from Eilat airport. Even the Israeli human rights organization “Adalah” stated that their detention was arbitrary and contrary to international law.

Another case that continues to remain open is that of the Israeli activist Zohar Regev, who is facing court proceedings in Ashkelon. Her lawyers claim that the charges against her are absurd, as she was forcibly detained in international waters and transported against her will to Israeli territory.

The Italian request for sanctions against Ben Gvir marks one of the harshest attitudes of a major European country towards a member of the Israeli cabinet since the start of the war in Gaza, increasing diplomatic pressure on Tel Aviv and opening a new debate within the European Union on relations with the Netanyahu government. square

Source: prizrenpost