Belgium Summons Israeli Envoy Over Flotilla Treatment
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has summoned the Israeli ambassador to Belgium for a formal diplomatic meeting after far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video showing bound and blindfolded activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla being humiliated in the port of Ashdod. The diplomatic démarche places Belgium at the forefront of a coordinated European response that has seen at least seven countries summon Israeli envoys or issue formal condemnations.
The Video That Sparked a Diplomatic Crisis
According to De Morgen, Ben-Gvir posted footage on X showing activists being brought ashore in Ashdod after the flotilla was intercepted. The video shows people handcuffed and kneeling with their heads to the ground, with one person shouting “Free, free Palestine” before being wrestled to the ground. Ben-Gvir himself walks among the bound activists, taunts them, and waves the Israeli flag.
“This is how we welcome those who support terror. Welcome to Israel,” Ben-Gvir wrote alongside the video.
Prévot’s Response
Prévot described the images as “deeply disturbing” in a statement on X. “People held captive, bound, forced face down, and a government minister broadcasting their humiliation on social media,” he wrote. “Belgian citizens are among those detained. This situation is unacceptable. It violates the most basic standards of human dignity.”
The Belga News Agency reported that Prévot instructed Belgian diplomats to secure consular access to detained Belgian nationals “as a matter of urgency” and requested that the Israeli ambassador be summoned “to express our indignation and ask for explanations.” Four Belgian activists who had been detained were later reported to have returned to Brussels.
A Coordinated European Outcry
The incident triggered an unusually broad diplomatic response across Europe. Euronews reported that France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and Greece all issued formal condemnations or summoned Israeli ambassadors. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the treatment “unacceptable” and demanded an apology, while Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares described it as “monstrous, disgraceful and inhumane.”
Internal Israeli Divisions
The video also exposed deep rifts within the Israeli government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself from Ben-Gvir’s actions, stating that the treatment “does not align with the values and norms of Israel” and ordering the activists to be deported “as soon as possible.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called Ben-Gvir’s actions “a disgraceful display,” saying he was “not the face of Israel” and had knowingly caused harm to the state.
Ben-Gvir responded defiantly, writing: “There are those in the government who still haven’t understood how to behave towards supporters of terrorism. Whoever enters our territory to support terrorism and declare solidarity with Hamas will get a slap and we will not turn the other cheek.”
The Global Sumud Flotilla
The Global Sumud Flotilla — “Sumud” meaning “steadfastness” in Arabic — consisted of approximately 50 vessels carrying 428 people from 44 countries. As Anadolu Ajansı reported, the convoy departed from Marmaris, Turkey, in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which has been in place since 2007. The flotilla was intercepted in international waters approximately 37 nautical miles from Crete.
Analysis and Implications
This incident represents a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between European countries and Israel. The coordinated summoning of Israeli ambassadors by multiple European nations is unusual and signals growing impatience with Israeli policies regarding Gaza. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic, and the flotilla’s mission was to deliver aid to a population facing severe shortages of food, medicine, and other essentials.
The internal Israeli crisis also raises questions about the stability of Netanyahu’s coalition government, which includes far-right figures like Ben-Gvir who have frequently clashed with more moderate members. As Gulf News noted, the global outcry has been swift and broad, with condemnation coming not only from Europe but also from Canada, Turkey, and UN experts.
What’s Next
The Israeli ambassador’s meeting with Prévot is expected to take place in the coming days. Questions remain about the status of two activists — Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila — who were taken to Israel and held in detention separately from the main group. The broader question is whether this coordinated European diplomatic pressure will translate into any substantive policy changes toward Israel’s blockade of Gaza.