France describes the treatment of the flotilla detainees as “inadmissible” and summons the Israeli ambassador

The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, has described Israel’s treatment of the detainees of the humanitarian flotilla as “inadmissible” and has announced the summoning of the Israeli ambassador in Paris, following the controversy sparked by the video published by the Israeli Minister of National Security, the far-right Itamar Ben Gvir, scolding the detained activists, handcuffed and kneeling, in the port of Ashdod.

“Ben Gvir’s actions with respect to the passengers of the Global Summud flotilla, denounced even by his own colleagues in the Israeli Government, are inadmissible,” Barrot stated in a message on social networks in which he confirmed the summons of the Israeli ambassador to France.

The French Foreign Minister has indicated that the Executive will convey its “indignation” to the Israeli representative and hopes to receive explanations about the situation of the activists who are on their soil after their boats were intercepted in international waters when they were trying to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“The safety of our compatriots is a constant priority. Regardless of what one thinks of this flotilla, and we have repeatedly expressed our disapproval of this initiative, our compatriots who participate in it must be treated with respect and released as soon as possible,” said the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, who has insisted that French embassies and consulates are mobilized to assist and guarantee consular protection to the affected nationals.

The images of Ben Gvir waving an Israeli flag and walking among international activists handcuffed and kneeling in the port of Ashdod, where they have arrived after the interception in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea of ​​a new flotilla, have generated an international controversy following complaints from Italy, Spain, Poland and France.