The Portuguese government has formally condemned the actions of Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, following the circulation of footage showing detained humanitarian aid activists forced to kneel with their hands tied. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Paulo Rangel, described the treatment as an intolerable violation of human dignity and confirmed that Portuguese citizens were among those detained during the naval blockade incident.
Portugal condemns Israeli minister over flotilla activist treatment
Wednesday, 20 May 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
Paulo Rangel is a Portuguese politician from the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) who has been a prominent voice on defence and foreign‑policy issues and has served in the European Parliament. He appears in this story because he commented publicly on the controversy over Lajes Air Base being used to refuel US planes.
Itamar Ben Gvir is Israel's Minister of National Security since 2022 and leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party. He oversees the Israel Police and has faced significant international criticism for his policies and public actions regarding security and the treatment of detainees.
6 sources
- Portugal condemns Israel's intolerable behaviour (video)RTP Madeira ·
- This is how we receive supporters of terrorism: Israeli minister shares video of flotilla activists tied upcmjornal.pt ·
- Rangel condemns “intolerable” behaviour of Israeli Security Minister and “violation of human dignity” of detained Portuguese citizensexpresso.pt ·
- Government denounces Israeli minister and "humiliating" treatment of flotilla activistsrtp.pt ·
- Wave of outrage after Israeli minister leads humiliation of flotilla activists bound for Gazadn.pt ·
- The images arriving from Israel that are angering the Portuguese governmentcnnportugal.iol.pt ·
