Europe summons Israeli ambassadors

European governments escalated their response on May 21 after Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video taunting detainees taken from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, widening the diplomatic fallout from Israel’s interception of the vessels. Reuters reported that multiple governments summoned Israeli ambassadors over the treatment of detainees and the minister’s remarks, while European Council President António Costa said he was “appalled” by what had happened. South Korea separately protested the seizure of its nationals, and Seoul later said two Koreans had been released. ### Why did European governments summon Israeli ambassadors? Reuters reported that the summons followed a video posted by Ben-Gvir in which he mocked detainees intercepted on the flotilla, an episode that turned an already sensitive naval seizure into a wider diplomatic dispute. The protests were formal steps by governments seeking explanations or registering objections through Israeli envoys, according to the Reuters reporting cited in the source briefing. (al-monitor.com) António Costa, the president of the European Council, added to that criticism by saying he was “appalled” by the treatment of flotilla members, according to Reuters as cited in the briefing. His intervention placed the issue at the level of senior European Union leadership, not only bilateral foreign ministries. ### What was on the flotilla, and why did the arrests draw so much attention? (al-monitor.com) The vessels were part of a Gaza aid flotilla whose passengers included activists and foreign nationals seeking to deliver humanitarian assistance or show opposition to Israel’s blockade and military campaign. The diplomatic response intensified after detainees from the interception appeared in material used by an Israeli cabinet minister for ridicule, rather than in a narrow consular or security process. (al-monitor.com) South Korean reporting identified two Korean nationals as being aboard separate seized vessels. The Korea Times said one vessel was seized near Cyprus on Monday and another near Gaza on Tuesday, and that Seoul described both as humanitarian aid ships. ### What did South Korea’s president say? President Lee Jae-myung publicly criticized Israel’s detention of Korean nationals and referred to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the Korea Times. (al-monitor.com) The newspaper described the remarks as unusually direct for a head of government speaking publicly about Israel at that level. (koreatimes.co.kr) Lee’s office said on May 21 that the government “expresses strong regret” over Israel’s capture of its citizens following the seizure of the vessels, while also welcoming their prompt release. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the two Koreans were released directly and deported without being placed in detention facilities, and the foreign ministry said they were expected to arrive in Korea on Friday. (koreatimes.co.kr) ### Did Seoul link the releases to Lee’s criticism? Kang Yu-jung said the government had provided consular assistance and taken diplomatic measures after Lee raised concerns over the safety and rights of the detained Koreans at a cabinet meeting, according to the Korea Times. The presidential office presented the release as the result of that response, though other South Korean reporting said officials stopped short of saying Lee’s remarks alone caused Israel to free them. (koreatimes.co.kr) South Korea also said Israel had indicated it hoped the incident would not damage bilateral ties. That left Seoul balancing a public protest over the seizure with an effort to manage the immediate return of its citizens and preserve diplomatic channels. ### What happens next for the detainees and the diplomatic dispute? Israel was moving ahead with deportations of at least some flotilla detainees, according to the Reuters reporting summarized in the source briefing. (koreatimes.co.kr) Governments whose citizens were on board were continuing consular contacts and formal protests, while the treatment of detainees and Ben-Gvir’s video remained the focus of the immediate backlash. South Korea said its two nationals were expected back on Friday, and Seoul indicated it would keep up diplomatic communication with relevant countries. In Europe, the next steps were centered on ambassadorial meetings and any further formal responses individual governments chose to announce after hearing from Israeli representatives. (koreatimes.co.kr) (al-monitor.com)