THOUGHT PEOPLE – Foreign ministers from eight Arab and Islamic countries condemned the treatment of Israeli national security officials, Itamar Ben-Gvir against humanitarian activists who were detained after participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla aid mission to Gaza, Palestine.
In a joint statement released Sunday, May 24, 2026, the foreign ministers assessed the actions taken against the activists as “horrific, degrading and unacceptable.”
The eight countries that signed the statement consist of: Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi ArabiaAnd Qatar.
They consider Ben-Gvir’s public humiliation of detainees to be a serious violation of human dignity and international law.
“The deliberate public humiliation of detainees is a shameful attack on human dignity and a clear violation of international law,” the joint statement said.
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Condemns Incitement and Violence against Palestine
Apart from condemning the treatment of flotilla activists, diplomats also highlighted the actions and statements of Ben-Gvir and a number of other Israeli officials which were deemed to have incited incitement and violence against Palestinians in the occupied territories.
According to them, this action, which they call an “illegal and extremist” attitude, has the potential to exacerbate conflicts in the region and hinder long-term peace efforts.
Foreign ministers believe that such provocative actions will only strengthen hatred and extremism, as well as diminish the chances of achieving a two-state solution that has been pushed by the international community.
“They fuel hatred and extremism and hinder efforts to realize a just and sustainable peace based on a two-state solution,” the statement said.
These countries also urge accountability for Ben-Gvir’s actions and ask for concrete steps to stop various forms of provocation and violations which are considered to continue to be repeated.
Flotilla Activists Intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea
Previously, hundreds of Global Sumud Flotilla members carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza were brought to Ashdod Port, Israel, on Wednesday, May 20 2026.
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The incident occurred after the Israeli navy intercepted all aid ships in international waters about 250 nautical miles from the Gaza coast.
Global Sumud Flotilla organizers said the interception was carried out when the ship convoy was still far from Gaza waters and was carrying out an international humanitarian mission.
The controversy widened after Ben-Gvir released a video showing a number of activists being handcuffed and forced to bow while the Israeli national anthem was played. The footage sparked condemnation from various countries and international humanitarian organizations.
This incident also attracted attention in Indonesia because nine Indonesian citizens (WNI) were also part of the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 group. They consisted of journalists and humanitarian volunteers who were previously reported to have been detained before being returned to Indonesia.
Indonesian government through Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Previously, he also criticized Israel’s actions in intercepting humanitarian aid ships in Eastern Mediterranean waters.
Israel itself on Thursday, May 21 2026, stated that all flotilla activists had been deported. However, the treatment of the volunteers during their detention sparked widespread outrage and scrutiny from the international community.
Global Sumud Flotilla is part of an international solidarity movement which aims to distribute humanitarian aid while opposing the blockade on Gaza. The prolonged conflict in the region continues to trigger a humanitarian crisis, including limited access to food, medicine and health services for Palestinian civilians.***
