On Wednesday, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister, shared videos of himself confronting flotilla activists detained in Ashdod after Israeli forces intercepted their ships. In the footage, he is seen forcing down the head of an activist who shouted, 'Free, free Palestine,' and responding with 'Shut up!' while waving an Israeli flag. His actions drew sharp criticism from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who stated that Ben-Gvir's behavior was damaging to Israel's reputation and undermined the efforts of many professionals in the country. In response to the incident, Italy's government summoned the Israeli ambassador, demanding an explanation for the treatment of the activists, many of whom were Italian citizens. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned Ben-Gvir's actions as unacceptable and called for an apology, stressing the need for actions to secure the release of the detained Italians. This incident has escalated tensions and raised questions about Israel's diplomatic relations with Italy.