BRUSSELS, (PIC)
Members of the European Parliament have called for far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to be sanctioned under the European Union’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime following his publication of footage showing the abuse and humiliation of activists from the “Global Sumud Flotilla.”
Italian MEP Danilo Della Valle said on Thursday that he and 28 other European lawmakers had sent a letter to European Council President António Costa demanding action against Ben-Gvir and those responsible for the mistreatment of the activists.
In a statement published on X, Della Valle said the letter documented how activists from the flotilla were publicly humiliated while handcuffed and chained, in addition to being subjected to physical and psychological abuse and violations of human dignity.
He noted that several European countries had already summoned Israeli ambassadors to demand explanations over the activists’ mistreatment, stressing that “the time has come to move from words to action.”
The Italian lawmaker said the letter specifically calls for sanctions against Ben-Gvir and other officials involved in the abuses under the EU’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime.
He pointed out that the mechanism had previously been used against “violent Israeli settlers” and argued that it should now be expanded to include other individuals responsible for serious human rights violations.
Della Valle added: “The fascists running Israel must face justice for the crimes they have committed.”
The EU’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime provides the legal framework allowing the European Union to impose sanctions on individuals and entities involved in grave human rights violations anywhere in the world. The system is often compared to the United States’ Global Magnitsky Act.
Sanctions under the mechanism include asset freezes, bans on EU citizens and companies providing funds to listed individuals, and travel bans.
On Wednesday, Ben-Gvir published video footage showing him overseeing the humiliation and abuse of activists from the “Global Sumud Flotilla.”
The scenes sparked international outrage, with several countries, including Spain, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, summoning Israeli ambassadors and representatives in protest.
On Tuesday evening, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced that all activists from the “Sumud Flotilla” had been detained and transferred onto Israeli naval vessels.
According to flotilla organizers, Israeli forces attacked nearly 50 boats carrying 428 activists from 44 countries, including Turkish citizens, as they attempted to challenge the blockade imposed on Gaza.
