Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir attacks Italy as 'land of the flipflop' in response to investigation

 ROME – Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, attacked Italy as “the land of the flipflop” in a statement on X, after Italian state media reported on Monday that Italian prosecutors are launching an investigation into Ben-Gvir’s shocking treatment of detained activists aboard the Global Sumund Flotilla.

 Italy is the second European country, after France, to announce an investigation into Ben-Gvir following videos that emerged in May of him taunting detained activists aboard an aid flotilla heading to Gaza, 27 of whom were Italian citizens.

 In response to the videos, Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, criticised Israel’s actions as “unacceptable” and a “violation of human dignity.” Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, also summoned the Israeli Ambassador to Italy to appear at the Farnesina to explain Ben-Gvir’s actions.

 This new step taken by Italian prosecutors, however, prompted Ben-Gvir’s anger as in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, he said “the land of the boot has become the land of the flip-flop,” referencing the Italian peninsula’s famous boot shape.

 In a separate statement to Israeli media, Ben-Gvir said that “Israel is not a punching bag for a bunch of lying supporters of terrorism who fabricate slander and lies against our fighters.” He added, “I will not shy away from one investigation or another and will continue to stand proudly alongside our fighters,”

 This comes as the Europe Union are preparing to decide whether Ben-Gvir should face sanctions in response to his treatment of the detainees.

 khg