Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has sparked widespread international condemnation after posting a video showing detained activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla kneeling with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground.
The footage, shared on X, was published after Israeli forces intercepted vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla at sea and detained hundreds of foreign activists at the southern port of Ashdod.
Captioned “Welcome to Israel”, the video shows dozens of activists kneeling with their hands bound, while at certain moments the Israeli national anthem can be heard playing in the background. It also shows Ben-Gvir moving among the detainees, appearing to taunt them while waving an Israeli flag.
The post triggered immediate criticism from across the international community as well as from senior Israeli officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Ben-Gvir’s conduct was “not in line with Israel’s values and norms”, adding that the activists would be deported “as soon as possible”.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also condemned the minister, saying he had “knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display”.
The backlash extended beyond Israel. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described the minister’s actions as “despicable”, while European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said “no one should be punished for defending humanity”.
Several countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Poland and Turkey, also condemned the incident. Canada said the treatment of civilians was “abominable” and confirmed it would summon Israel’s ambassador.
Legal rights group Adalah accused Israeli authorities of carrying out what it described as a policy of abuse and humiliation against the detained activists, saying lawyers had visited the detention site.
Around 50 vessels reportedly set sail from Turkey as part of the flotilla, aiming to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Israeli authorities said about 430 activists were taken to Ashdod for processing.
Ben-Gvir defended his actions, telling parliament he was “proud” of the operation and dismissing criticism from senior officials.
The flotilla incident has further intensified tensions surrounding the long-standing blockade of Gaza, which Israel says is necessary for security reasons, while critics argue it has contributed to severe humanitarian conditions in the territory.