294. Israel lacks understanding of human dignity

Israel is accountable for the deaths and starvation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and its attacks on humanitarian aid are condemnable. 

I view it as one of the world’s leading terrorist nations, and I am right. As a free citizen, I have the right to express my opinion against the country’s foreign policy as long as I don’t cause any problems for it. 

More than 400 activists from 40 countries, traveling on 50 vessels, took part in the Gaza Flotilla as a humanitarian gesture. The flotilla departed from Turkey carrying food and other aid to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. 

Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters and brought everyone on board to Israel. The stated reason was that they might have been carrying arms and ammunition for Hamas.

Today, Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, released footage showing Israeli security forces mistreating detained international activists. The video shows dozens of men and women kneeling in rows, foreheads to the ground, hands zip-tied behind their backs. 

With the caption “Welcome to Israel” in English, the shameless minister appears, holding an Israeli flag and shouting “The people of Israel live” in the face of a bound man.

Three activists were hospitalized due to Israeli violence, while dozens more are suspected of having sustained broken ribs, causing breathing difficulties. 

Israeli authorities kept them kneeling for extended periods and forced them to bend double while moving them around the port. Beyond physical abuse, detainees faced severe degradation, sexual harassment, and humiliation, and several women reported that their hijabs were torn off.

As expected, the video drew a furious response from countries whose citizens were on the boats, including the UK, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said the images were “unacceptable” and demanded the release of all Italian citizens involved, an apology for the mistreatment, and an acknowledgment of “total contempt” toward the Italian government.

The Spanish foreign minister called the treatment “monstrous, disgraceful, and inhumane.” Poland’s foreign ministry said it was calling for a ban on Ben-Gvir's entry into the country. Britain’s Foreign Office issued a statement harshly denouncing the treatment of the arrested activists. 

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong said: “The images we have seen are shocking and unacceptable.” The European Council president said he was appalled by the treatment of flotilla members. The South Korean president, Lee Jae Myung, also denounced Israel’s actions and questioned the legal basis for the arrests outside Israeli territorial waters.

I have purposely mentioned these nations only to show that India was nowhere. So far, the country has not condemned its close friends' inhuman activities.

Consider how an Israeli prison guard observing his superior take pride in mistreating foreign detainees might feel confident about abusing Palestinian detainees, without fear of being caught.

The global outrage prompted Benjamin Netanyahu to condemn Ben-Gvir. “The minister’s handling of the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel’s values and norms,” he said, adding that he had ordered the group’s deportation as soon as possible.

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar criticized the minister harshly, saying, “You knowingly caused harm to our state in this disgraceful display – not for the first time. You are not the face of Israel.”

The US ambassador to Israel described Ben-Gvir’s behavior as “despicable” and said the minister had “betrayed the dignity of his nation.”

It is known worldwide that both the Americans and Netanyahu were compelled to make this statement, and that no action will be taken because Netanyahu’s government remains in power with support from Ben-Gvir’s party. 

Israel's actions send a message that it considers itself above international rules and norms.

To illustrate, I will cite another Israeli cabinet member, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who accused the International Criminal Court (ICC) of antisemitism and claimed that he was informed the ICC prosecutor secretly sought an international arrest warrant against him. He said, “As a sovereign and independent nation, Israel rejects hypocritical orders from biased entities that constantly oppose us and challenge our biblical, historical, and legal rights in our homeland.” 

Smotrich has ordered the eviction of all residents of Khan al-Ahmar, which is home to more than 700 people. It lies in the heart of the occupied West Bank, about 10km east of the Old City of Jerusalem, and is surrounded by Israeli settlements.

Although Israel is not a member of the ICC, the Palestinian territories joined in 2015, enabling the court to investigate potential war crimes by Hamas in Israel and by Israelis in Gaza and the West Bank.

The ICC’s top prosecutor has requested arrest warrants for Smotrich, Ben-Gvir, Orit Strook, the minister of settlements and national missions, and two Israeli military officials.

I would like all 40 countries to shut down Israel’s embassy immediately. Only a strong boycott will bring sanity to the Israeli administration. 

Believe me, the Jews I know are ashamed of Israel’s stupid and inhuman acts and tell me they don’t feel safe anywhere in the world, and it has literally bound them to their homes. They can’t travel or go out to enjoy holidays.

And what can we say about Israel’s bosom friend India, which has no guts to condemn its great friend’s bad behavior, even in a mild way?