EU ‘appalled’ (again) by Israel, this time over Ben-Gvir’s Gaza flotilla humiliation, but continues doing nothing

21 May 2026, 18:00 by https://euobserver.com/author/elena-sanchez-nicolas/ · EUobserver

The aid flotilla carried more than 400 activists from over 40 countries

EU ‘appalled’ (again) by Israel, this time over Ben-Gvir’s Gaza flotilla humiliation, but continues doing nothing

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By Elena Sánchez Nicolás,
Brussels
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The video, which extremist Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir proudly published on his own social media account this week, humiliating some 400 foreign flotilla activists from 40 countries, has triggered international condemnation and outrage, even from other members of Israel’s own government.

Notably, but not surprisingly, there has been a calculated silence from some EU leaders, especially EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

In the video, Ben-Gvir waves a large Israeli flag over the bound activists and heckles them, at one point stating in Hebrew: “Welcome to Israel. We are the landlords.”

Reports a day later indicate three activists from the flotilla were hospitalised after alleged attacks by Israeli security forces and later discharged, while several others are believed to have suffered serious injuries.

“The team reports systemic violations of due process, and widespread physical and psychological abuse by Israeli authorities,” the rights group Adalah, which represents some of those detained, said in a statement. There were “a large number of complaints of extreme violence”.

EU Council president Antonio Costa said that he was “appalled” by the treatment of flotilla members by the Israeli minister. “This behaviour is completely unacceptable,” he said.

EU’s top diplomat Kalla Kallas also described the event as “unacceptable”, calling on the Israeli government to comply with international law – in a short statement of just 67 words.

Silence from von der Leyen

Notably absent from the chorus of main EU leaders was EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who as of writing has yet to issue a statement.

But even the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, described Ben-Gvir’s video as “despicable”.

For his part, Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez said he would bring the issue to Brussels and try (again) to convince EU leaders to place Ben-Gvir under the EU’s sanctions regime.

Ben-Gvir is already banned from entering Spain.

Ireland similarly expressed deep shock. “The Israeli government ‘s actions are in breach of international law and I intend to raise this issue at EU level,” said the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin.

At this point, the question many are asking themselves is when this endless condemnation will translate into some concrete action.

The idea to punish Ben-Gvir and other members of the Israeli government is far from new. But it has never materialised.

Blacklisting Israeli ministers Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, who have openly called for the extermination of Gaza civilians, would require unanimity, which remains unattainable due to vetoes by Israel’s main EU allies – principally Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy and the Czech Republic.

In August 2024, former EU top diplomat Josep Borrell proposed sanctions against Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for “hate messages against the Palestinians”. But there was no appetite back then to take any measures, favouring dialogue instead.

The commission officially put forward the proposal to put Ben-Gvir and Smotrich under a visa-ban and asset freeze in September 2025. This was vetoed by Hungary.

In contrast, June 2025 saw the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway impose sanctions on Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, accusing them of repeatedly encouraging violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

In response to this week’s already infamous video, Canadian PM Mark Carney said: “The abominable treatment of civilians aboard the flotilla, including that which is documented in footage shared by Itamar Ben-Gvir, is unacceptable… The protection of civilians and respect for human dignity must be upheld everywhere, at all times.”

The episode even touched the nerves of Austria and Italy, historically an ally of Netanyahu.

“We had already urged the Israeli side on multiple occasions in advance to exercise the utmost restraint in dealing with the aid flotilla and to comply with international law,” said Austrian minister of foreign affairs, pointing out there were three people from Austria remain in custody.

‘Total contempt’

But prime minister Giorgia Meloni went even further, accusing Israel of “total contempt” toward the Italian government and demanding an official apology alongside the immediate release of 29 detained Italian citizens.

EU ministers are expected to discuss trade measures against Israel on Friday (22 May) during a meeting in Brussels, including a potential ban on imports from Israeli settlers in the West Bank and changes to the EU-Israel trade agreement.

For months, Italy and Germany have been blocking efforts by some EU countries, such as Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia, to suspend (even if partially) the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

If Italy were to shift its position, the political landscape in Brussels could fundamentally change, isolating Germany and opening the door for the EU to formally suspend or condition its trade deal with Israel.

After years of deadlock, EU countries finally agreed to sanction violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank earlier this month – thanks to the change of government in Hungary.

Could this episode finally push EU countries to act?

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