Brussels: Members of the European Parliament condemned Israel's mistreatment of activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla after Israeli forces detained them in international waters earlier this week.

According to Anadolu Agency, Belgian member of European Parliament (MEP) Marc Botenga criticized the actions, stating that European citizens were "kidnapped in the Mediterranean first, then abused, beaten, and humiliated by Israel." Botenga highlighted the discrepancy in Europe's response by noting, "If it were Russia, Europe would already be on a war footing. But it's Israel. So people downplay it, talk about an isolated minister, and maintain the partnership with the aggressor state," he wrote on US social media company X.

French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan also expressed her concerns, pointing to Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir as a product of the broader system. She stated, "It is not Ben Gvir who creates the system; it is the Israeli colonial state that produces figures like him. He is merely a symptom, not the cause," highlighting the systemic issues within the Israeli state.

The criticism followed a video posted by Ben-Gvir on Wednesday, showing him taunting pro-Palestinian activists who appeared zip-tied and forced to kneel after being detained by Israeli forces. The video's release led to widespread condemnation both within Israel and from the international community.

The incident began when Israeli forces attacked the aid flotilla, which was in international waters on Monday, and detained all activists onboard. The flotilla, carrying 428 people from 44 countries, had set sail Thursday from the Turkish district of Marmaris in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza, which has been in place since 2007.