ROME, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani issued a joint statement on Wednesday, condemning Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for the treatment of the activists of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, calling it "unacceptable."
Hundreds of members from the 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, released by Ben-Gvir on his social media channels, 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.
The Italian government said that the treatment was intolerable and constituted a violation of human dignity.
It added that the Italian government has been taking all necessary steps to secure the immediate release of the Italian citizens involved.
Italy also demanded an apology from Israel over the treatment of the activists and for what it described as Israel's disregard for the explicit requests made by the Italian government.
For these reasons, Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation would immediately summon the Israeli ambassador to Italy to seek formal clarification over the incident, said the statement.
Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said on their website that all boats in their humanitarian convoy were intercepted after Israeli naval vessels surrounded them in international waters, about 250 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza. They said that 428 activists were "kidnapped" by Israel, including a number of Italians. ■
