Australia has summoned Israel's ambassador following the treatment of activists detained after Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla in international waters, with Canberra demanding the immediate release of its nationals and calling for detainees to be treated "in accordance with international standards."
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong issued the condemnation after Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on social media showing himself taunting pro-Palestinian activists who had been zip-tied and forced to kneel following their detention by Israeli forces.
"The images we have seen posted by Israeli Minister Ben Gvir who Australia has sanctioned are shocking and unacceptable," Wong said on US social media company X. "We condemn his actions and the degrading actions of Israeli authorities towards those detained."
Hillel Newman, the Israeli ambassador, was summoned to Australia's Foreign Ministry in Canberra.
There are 11 Australians among the activists detained aboard the Gaza flotilla.
Wong said Australia's ambassador had also made representations to Israel, reiterating Canberra's call for the release of the detained Australians and urging Israel to "ensure no ill treatment of any detainees and to act in line with international obligations."
The Israeli minister sparked outrage both within Israel and internationally after sharing the minute-long video, which showed detainees kneeling with their hands restrained behind their backs on what appeared to be the deck of a ship converted into a makeshift detention area.
Walking among them while waving a large Israeli flag, Ben-Gvir declared: "Welcome to Israel. We are the landlords."
In another moment captured in the footage, a handcuffed activist shouted "Free Palestine" before being pushed to the ground by security personnel as Ben-Gvir walked past.
The videos triggered widespread backlash and were also criticized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reportedly rebuked Ben-Gvir over the recordings.
The Global Sumud flotilla said Tuesday that all 50 vessels in its convoy had been seized by Israel. The convoy, carrying 428 people from 44 countries, departed from the Turkish district of Marmaris last Thursday in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007.
Pakistan also strongly condemned the interception, describing it as unlawful and denouncing the "arbitrary detention and reported mistreatment" of humanitarian activists. Islamabad confirmed that Pakistani humanitarian worker Saad Edhi was among those detained and demanded the immediate release of all activists.
Separately, Sri Lanka also expressed "deep concern and profound distress" over the incident which "appears to depict the dehumanizing" treatment of detainees of "Global Sumud Flotilla''.
The island nation's Foreign Ministry said it is engaged with the Israeli Foreign Ministry through diplomatic channels to "secure immediate consular access to the affected Sri Lankan national including guarantees for her safety, wellbeing, and dignity and swift and safe repatriation to Sri Lanka."
