Dutch leaders join outrage over Israeli treatment of activists

Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten and foreign minister Tom Berendsen are among the international leaders who have slammed a video showing arrested activists who wanted to take aid to Gaza being humiliated by Israeli soldiers and jeered at by Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The footage, which has been verified by the NRC, shows some 50 activists being made to kneel face down with their hands tied behind their backs. Ben-Gvir is shown waving an Israeli flag and saying in Hebrew “this is how we welcome the supporters of terror”.

Other activists are shown kneeling on the deck of a ship as the Israeli national anthem is played.

Six Dutch nationals, including two public broadcaster journalists, are among those arrested when their boat was boarded by the Israeli authorities. It was in international waters near Cyprus at the time. The Global Sumud Flotilla of some 50 ships was attempting to reach Gaza for weeks to take in humanitarian aid.

Ben-Gvir’s social media post has been widely condemned, with Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni describing it as “treatment that violates human dignity” and demanding an apology from the Israeli government.

Berendsen described the footage as “totally unacceptable” and said the Dutch government had “grave concerns” about the way the activists were being treated. He also said he would summon the Israeli ambassador and demand an explanation.

British, US, Canadian and other officials have also slammed the film, describing it as “despicable” and “disgraceful”.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also said the footage is “not in line with Israel’s values”, following the international condemnation.

More than 400 activists from 40 countries, travelling on 50 vessels, took part in the flotilla, according to the organisers. It had set off from Turkey carrying food and other aid.