Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Tuesday called comments by Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir “unacceptable” after an investigation was launched into the treatment of Global Sumud Flotilla activists. “These are unacceptable words that we reject; they are unworthy of a minister,” Tajani said in Italy’s Senate.

A day earlier, Ben-Gvir had slammed Italy, saying the “land of the boot has become the land of the flip-flop”. The controversy stems from the detention of over 430 activists from dozens of countries by Israeli authorities off the coast of Cyprus last month as they attempted to break the Gaza blockade.

A widely shared video showed Ben-Gvir mocking activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs, sparking international outrage. According to Italy’s ANSA news agency, Italian authorities have opened an inquiry into alleged torture and kidnapping of Italian citizens among the activists. France also launched an investigation into alleged war crimes and torture.

The European Union is considering sanctions on Ben-Gvir for his treatment of activists. Tajani said Rome would continue to push for the bloc to sanction the minister. Last month, the EU moved for the first time to impose economic restrictions on violent settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Despite growing tensions with Israel and Italy’s decision to suspend a defense agreement in April, Rome remains one of its strongest allies in Europe. Germany and Italy are the two remaining European countries blocking a bid to suspend a key trade agreement between the EU and Israel.

Source: www.aljazeera.com