The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs is getting ready to lodge a formal diplomatic protest with the Israeli ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz, according to information from in.gr. The move came after the release of a video showing Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mocking participants of the Gaza Sumud flotilla and calling them “terrorists.”
The protest followed a joint statement by four opposition parties -PASOK, SYRIZA, New Left, and Course of Freedom- which condemned Israel’s handling of the flotilla. They described the operation as a breach of international law and maritime conventions, urging the Greek government to take “all necessary steps” to secure the release and safe repatriation of its citizens. A few hours earlier, Alexis Haritsis, president of the New Left, reposted the video of Ben-Gvir on social media, underscoring the ministers’ role as leader of Israel’s far-right party Jewish Power and asking the Greek government to intervene.
The video, published by Middle East Eye, shows members of the Global Sumud Flotilla seated on the ground before far-right ultranationalist Ben-Gvir, who taunts and insults them. The flotilla had set out to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza before being intercepted by Israeli forces.
According to diplomatic sources cited by in.gr, the Israeli ambassador may be summoned to the ministry for further explanations. Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis is also seeking direct contact with his Israeli counterpart to convey Athens’ condemnation and strong protest.
Greek authorities are additionally considering dispatching a military transport plane to Israel to repatriate Greek citizens who were among the flotilla participants.
According to Reuters, activists detained during previous flotilla missions were typically deported rather than criminally prosecuted, their cases treated as immigration matters. Detainees are first identified and processed by Israel’s immigration authorities before being held in custody, possibly in Ketziot Prison in southern Israel, a high-security facility known for its harsh conditions. Human rights groups have voiced concern that participants in the latest flotilla could face more severe treatment than in the past, as Israeli officials have recently floated the possibility of prolonged detention. Four italian citizens have already been deported earlier today. According to Israeli authorities more that 470 people have been detained in total from the 42 vessels that comprised the Global Sumud Flotilla.
