OTTAWA — Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced Wednesday that she has directed officials to summon Israel’s ambassador to Canada. The diplomatic move comes in response to the treatment of dozens of civilians aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was detained by Israeli forces on Monday.
According to the advocacy group Global Sumud Canada, 12 Canadian activists were among those detained while attempting to challenge the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. Organizers stated the flotilla’s mission was to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people and protest what they describe as an illegal siege on the territory.
The diplomatic friction intensified following a video posted to social media by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. In the footage, an individual can be heard chanting “free, free Palestine” before being pushed to the ground by security personnel. The video also depicts dozens of individuals with their hands bound behind their backs and their faces pressed to the floor.
Speaking to reporters via a video call from Estonia, Anand condemned the images.
“What we’ve seen, including the video shared by Ben-Gvir, is deeply troubling and absolutely unacceptable,” Anand said. “The protection of civilians and respect for human dignity must be upheld at all times.”
Anand also noted that Canada has previously imposed strict sanctions on Ben-Gvir, including asset freezes and a travel ban, citing his “repeated incitement of violence.”
In the wake of the detentions, Global Sumud Flotilla organizers revealed that most of the Canadian participants had pre-arranged to launch a hunger strike if they were taken into custody by Israeli forces.
Canada is not alone in its diplomatic response. According to reports from Al Jazeera, France and Italy have also summoned their respective Israeli ambassadors over the treatment of the civilians captured in the footage.
