National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sparked a diplomatic storm Wednesday after visiting the Ashdod port facility where Hamas/Gaza flotilla provocateurs are being detained by Israeli security forces. The minister was filmed waving an Israeli flag at the terror-supporting attention seekers, who were handcuffed with their faces to the floor. In footage released by his office, Ben-Gvir declared: “Daycare is over. Whoever acts against the State of Israel will find a determined nation. The people of Israel live.”
During the minister’s visit, one of the detainees shouted at him: “Free Palestine,” and was immediately pinned to the floor by Israel Prison Service forces. The images and videos from the incident drew furious reactions in Italy, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani calling Ben-Gvir’s behavior and the treatment of the detainees “unacceptable.”
Following the unusual incident, the Italian government announced it expects a formal apology from Israel. In a sharp statement from Rome, officials said Israel’s ambassador to Italy will be summoned for a clarification meeting at the Italian Foreign Ministry, where he will be required to provide explanations about the incident. The affair is expected to cast a shadow over relations between the two countries in the coming days.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also responded sharply: “You have knowingly caused damage to the country in this disgraceful performance, and not for the first time. You have wasted tremendous, professional and successful efforts made by many, many people – from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry employees and many more. No, you are not the face of Israel.”