The French Foreign Ministry demanded that the Israeli ambassador explain the bullying of activists.

Israel's Ambassador to France, Joshua Zarqa, is due to arrive at the republic's Foreign Ministry to provide explanations in connection with the publication by the country's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gwer, of a video humiliating pro-Palestinian activists of the Sumud flotilla. The corresponding order was issued on May 20 by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barraud.

"Ben-Gvir's behavior towards the participants of the Sumud flotilla, which was condemned even by his own colleagues in the Israeli government, is unacceptable," Barro wrote on his Telegram channel.

He added that despite official Paris's disapproval of the activists' initiative, the French authorities care about the safety of their compatriots. The Minister stressed that the people should be released as soon as possible.

On May 20, Ben-Gvir posted on the social network X (ex. Twitter) video of the harsh detention of Palestinian defenders. The footage shows that the demonstrators were put on their knees and their hands were tied with tourniquets, and then they were forcibly taken away by special forces. Attempts by activists to shout slogans were severely suppressed. The minister signed the footage: "Welcome to Israel."

After the publication of the video and the scandal on social media, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also demanded an apology from Israel, and the country's Foreign Ministry decided to summon the Israeli ambassador. The Spanish Foreign Ministry made the same decision and summoned the Israeli Charge d'affaires to the ministry because of the situation with the members of the Sumud flotilla.

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On the same day, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs detained 430 pro-Palestinian activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was heading to the shores of the Gaza Strip. It was noted that all of them have been transferred to Israeli vessels and are heading to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives. According to the country's Foreign Ministry, the flotilla's attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza was "just a PR stunt" in the interests of the Palestinian group Hamas.