ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and 6 other Arab and Muslim countries, on Sunday strongly condemned the “appalling, degrading, and unacceptable actions” of Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir against Gaza-bound flotilla activists in Israeli detention.
Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, sparked widespread international criticism earlier this week after sharing a video in which he appeared to mock activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla detained by Israeli police.
His actions triggered strong backlash from foreign leaders and even drew criticism from coalition partner Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his televised treatment of around 430 detainees from the Global Sumud Flotilla.
In one video clip, Ben-Gvir is seen waving a large Israeli flag above detainees who appeared hunched over with their hands seemingly restrained.
“The Foreign Ministers of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Türkiye, the Republic of Indonesia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates strongly condemn the appalling, degrading, and unacceptable actions of extremist Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir against participants in the Gaza-bound flotilla while they were in Israeli detention,” said a statement shared by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The Ministers stress that Ben-Gvir’s deliberate public humiliation of detainees is a disgraceful assault on human dignity and a clear violation of Israel’s obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and international human rights law.
“The Ministers further deplored and condemned in the strongest terms the illegal and extremist acts of incitement and violence by Ben Gvir and the Israeli forces directed against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the statement added.
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Joint Statement by Foreign Ministers of the Group of Eight Arab-Islamic States
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 24, 2026
The ministers warned that Ben-Gvir’s provocative actions fuel hatred and extremism and undermine efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.
They demanded that Ben-Gvir be held accountable for his actions and called for concrete measures to end his repeated provocations, incitement, and violations, to prevent him from continuing his threats and to ensure that such actions are not tolerated or repeated.
The ministers further stressed the need to protect the human rights and dignity of all detainees, ensure their humane treatment, and guarantee full respect for international law in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Earlier France had banned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering French territory following international outrage over the ill-treatment of Gaza bound aid flotilla activists detained after attempting to sail humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“As from today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X on Saturday, describing the move as a response to the minister’s “reprehensible actions” towards French and European citizens who were part of the Gaza-bound flotilla.
Spain has urged the European Union to impose sanctions on Ben-Gvir, while the United Kingdom summoned Israel’s most senior diplomat in London following the minister’s “inflammatory video”.
