Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed outrage on May 25 over the Israeli government's treatment of participants in a humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza, calling the actions 'disgusting.' However, in a press release issued the same day, he declined to announce any new measures to pressure the Israeli government.
The press release described a phone call between Prime Minister Carney and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. During the conversation, Carney called for an independent investigation into the mistreatment of activists, who were tied up, mocked, and forced to kneel in a video posted last week by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
'The prime minister reiterated that the disgusting treatment of civilians, including Canadian citizens, on the convoy heading to Gaza is unacceptable,' the statement read. Carney also used the call to reaffirm Canada's opposition to the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, as well as the widespread violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
The video posted by Ben-Gvir sparked a global wave of condemnation, with many countries issuing official statements. Some countries took stronger action: France on May 24 banned Ben-Gvir from entering, citing his 'indescribable actions' against French and European citizens on the Global Sumud convoy. Poland also imposed a five-year entry ban on Ben-Gvir. Leaders of France and Italy called on the European Union to sanction the Israeli minister.
However, Israel rarely faces severe pressure or consequences beyond condemnations, despite widespread reports of Israeli settlers and soldiers attacking and killing Palestinians and Palestine supporters. Human rights activists have pointed to evidence of torture and inhuman conditions in Israeli prisons. Organizations such as Amnesty International and B'Tselem accuse Israel of implementing an apartheid system that discriminates against and dispossesses Palestinians of their land.
The Global Sumud convoy was an effort to confront Israeli abuses in Gaza, where Israel has been conducting a genocidal war against Palestinians since October 2023. More than 75,000 Palestinians have been killed, and survivors suffer from malnutrition and displacement. In his May 25 statement, Carney called the humanitarian situation in Gaza 'catastrophic.'
Activists have repeatedly tried to reach Gaza to deliver aid but have been blocked by Israeli forces. A new campaign launched on April 12 in the Mediterranean involved about 70 boats and 3,000 participants. Amnesty International Australia estimated that nearly 430 people were detained when Israeli forces boarded the ships in international waters, violating international law. Activists reported being mistreated, with at least 15 alleging sexual assault, including rape.
Israel claims, without evidence, that the activists are inspired by the Palestinian armed group Hamas. In the video, Ben-Gvir described them as 'terror supporters.' However, leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned that Israel's actions 'violate human dignity.' Meloni and others summoned the Israeli ambassador to their countries to express concerns.
In a separate statement on May 25, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said she had spoken with her Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar, indicating that the Canadian government would provide Israel with evidence of mistreatment of Canadian citizens involved in the convoy. 'I made it clear that denying Canadian citizens consular services when they are detained violates the Vienna Convention and must not happen again,' Anand wrote on social media.
