ISRAELI officials have accused Pedro Sanchez of ‘unbelievable hypocrisy’ after video footage emerged showing Basque police confronting pro-Palestinian flotilla activists at Bilbao Airport.
In the video, officers from the Basque police force are seen using batons as they restrain some activists, forcing them to the ground and dragging them across the floor during a tense airport confrontation.
The Spanish activists had been travelling on a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza with aid when Israeli forces intercepted the boats between Monday 18 May and Tuesday 19 May in international waters near Cyprus.
After being held in Israeli detention, they were deported back to Spain, where they were seen holding Palestinian and Basque flags in the arrivals area.
Police then attempted to move the group to clear space for other passengers, triggering a confrontation that led to four arrests on suspicion of resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has accused Pedro Sanchez of ‘unbelievable hypocrisy’ following the incident.
“If there were a world championship for smearing Israel and spreading lies about the State of Israel, I think the Spanish government under Sanchez would easily take first place. They would win the trophy,” Saar said in a video posted on the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s social media accounts.
The comments came after Sanchez himself criticised footage shared by Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir showing detained activists in Israel, calling for EU action over their treatment and saying Spain “will not tolerate anyone mistreating our citizens.”
The Spanish leader also said he will ask the European Union to urgently ban Ben-Gvir from entering EU countries.
Following the Bilbao incident, Spain’s charge d’affaires to Israel, Francisca Pedro, has been summoned with Israeli officials demanding an explanation of the incident.
READ MORE: Spain demands release of Gaza flotilla activist ‘kidnapped’ by Israel in international waters
Israeli minister, Yossi Amrani also made a statement claiming Israel ‘faced far more serious provocations from hundreds of flotilla participants during each of the last six flotillas’ and never used ‘the severe violence’ to which ‘the Spanish authorities resorted.’
However the Global Sumud Flotilla has reported that among its members detained by Israeli authorities there have been at least 15 sexual assaults and dozens of injuries.
Basque Government Security Minister Bingen Zupiria said he regretted the incidents and the ‘provocations’ directed at Ertzaintza (Basque police) officers, adding that police conduct would be investigated.
He said the force’s role had been to allow activists to be greeted by supporters while also ensuring the airport remained accessible to other passengers, adding: “Judging by the images, it’s clear that we achieved neither.”
More than 50 boats took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail from Turkey on Thursday 14 May carrying aid and attempting to reach Gaza.
Around 430 people from more than 40 countries were on board, including 33 Spaniards who were among those first detained by Israeli forces.
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