Gaza flotilla activists deported from Israel as backlash over treatment grows

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists who were detained in Israel after their flotilla bringing symbolic aid to Gaza was intercepted have been deported, Israel has confirmed.

It follows international backlash in response to a video posted by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir showing himself taunting activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.

On Thursday, the UK confirmed it had summoned Israel's top diplomat in Britain, charge d'affaires Daniela Grudsky Ekstein, over the incident.

In a statement, the UK Foreign Office said the move reflected the UK's "strong condemnation of [Ben Gvir's] conduct in taunting those involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla".

"We are also deeply concerned by the detention conditions depicted and have demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities. We made clear their obligations to protect the rights of all those involved," the statement said.

Similarly, Poland has also summoned Israel's Chargé d'Affaires in Warsaw.

Writing on social media, Poland's Foreign Affairs Minister Radosław Sikorski said it wished to express "outrage" at the treatment of its citizens, and "demand an apology for the utterly inappropriate behavior of a member of the Israeli government".

A foreign ministry spokesman later said two Polish citizens who were part of the flotilla would be returning, and that a request had been made to ban Ben Gvir from Poland.

On Thursday, Italy's Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani said he had asked the EU to consider placing sanctions on Ben Gvir.

He said this was for the "unacceptable acts" of "seizing the activists in international waters and subjecting them to harassment and humiliation, in violation of the most basic human rights".

There has also been condemnation from the US, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Canada, and Ireland.

There was also rare criticism for Ben Gvir's actions from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said they were "not in line with Israel's values".

In a statement, the Israeli embassy in London stated that video had been condemned by other senior political figures, including President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Gideo Sa'ar, and does not represent the policy of the Israeli government.

On Thursday, Italian politician Dario Carotenuto and journalist Alessandro Mantovani, who were part of the flotilla, were pictured arriving at Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, after first being flown to Athens.

Speaking to reporters, Carotenuto said they had been beaten after arriving in Israel.

Adalah, an Israel-based rights group representing the detainees, earlier said there had been "severe, widespread injuries", with at least three people taken to hospital for treatment.

Israeli authorities have not commented on the allegations.