{"id":451408,"date":"2026-05-20T15:56:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T15:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/451408\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T15:56:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T15:56:11","slug":"ben-gvir-posts-video-of-himself-taunting-bound-and-detained-gaza-flotilla-activists-sparks-global-outcry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/451408\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Gvir posts video of himself taunting bound and detained Gaza flotilla activists, sparks global outcry"},"content":{"rendered":"

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted a video<\/a> on Wednesday in which he is seen taunting activists from a Gaza flotilla intercepted by Israel, immediately sparking an international outcry.<\/p>\n

Dozens of activists can be seen in the clip forced to kneel on the ground, with their hands tied, at an Ashdod port facility where they were being processed ahead of their likely deportation.<\/p>\n

Those aboard the flotilla intercepted by Israel earlier this week included Italian and Spanish nationals, whose governments said they would summon the respective Israeli ambassadors in their countries for a reprimand over Ben Gvir\u2019s behavior. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare rebuke of the far-right cabinet member he appointed, insisting that the national security minister\u2019s conduct was not in line with Israel\u2019s values.<\/p>\n

The video begins with a female activist shouting \u201cFree Palestine,\u201d before being grabbed by the head and shoved to the ground by officers who drag her out of Ben Gvir\u2019s way, as he tours the facility.<\/p>\n

The treatment of the detainees appeared akin to security forces\u2019 handling of the most severe terrorists in the prisons overseen by Ben Gvir\u2019s office, which has also prompted allegations<\/a> of abuse.<\/p>\n

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With dozens of bound activists kneeling on the ground, Ben Gvir is seen waving a large Israeli flag and shouting in Hebrew, \u201cWelcome to Israel! We are in charge here!\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tPeople wave to boats belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla as they depart for Gaza from the port of Marmaris, Turkey, May 14, 2026, in an attempt to break the Israeli naval blockade. (AP\/Murat Kocabas)<\/p>\n

Another shot pans through the kneeling activists, as Israel\u2019s national anthem is blasted over a loudspeaker. Ben Gvir is subsequently seen shouting \u201cAm Yisrael Chai\u201d (the nation of Israel lives) at a bound detainee trying to argue with him.<\/p>\n

Ben Gvir is also heard urging guards at the facility \u201cnot [to] be bothered by their screams,\u201d as a woman can be heard crying out in the background.<\/p>\n

International furor<\/p>\n

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the clip \u201cunacceptable,\u201d taking issue with the treatment of activists that violated their human dignity. Italy\u2019s foreign ministry said a member of the country\u2019s parliament and a journalist were among those detained.<\/p>\n

Meloni wrote on X that her government was taking immediate steps at the highest levels to secure the release of all Italian citizens who were detained.<\/p>\n

\u201cItaly further demands an apology for the treatment of these demonstrators and for the utter contempt shown toward the explicit requests of the Italian government,\u201d she said, adding that Israel\u2019s ambassador in Rome would also be summoned.<\/p>\n

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot tweeted that he too had summoned Israel\u2019s ambassador in Paris over the mistreatment of the French nationals aboard the flotilla.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever one thinks of this flotilla \u2014 and we have indicated on several occasions our disapproval of this initiative \u2014 our compatriots who are participating in it must be treated with respect and released as quickly as possible,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

Citizens of South Korea were also among those detained by Israeli naval forces, President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday, calling Israel\u2019s actions \u201cway out of line<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spain and Ireland also issued statements, calling out Ben Gvir\u2019s \u201cmonstrous\u201d and \u201cappalling\u201d behavior.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tBoats belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla depart for Gaza from the port of Marmaris, Turkey, May 14, 2026, in an attempt to break the Israeli naval blockade. (AP\/Murat Kocabas)<\/p>\n

PM, FM criticism<\/p>\n

As international outcry quickly mounted, Netanyahu issued a rare statement criticizing one of his own ministers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIsrael has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza. However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel\u2019s values and norms,\u201d Netanyahu said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have instructed the relevant authorities to deport the provocateurs as soon as possible,\u201d the premier added.<\/p>\n

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar also posted a sharp reprimand of Ben Gvir in English from his personal X account, which was also shared by the Foreign Ministry\u2019s official feed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou deliberately caused damage to the state with this disgraceful performance, and not for the first time,\u201d Sa\u2019ar wrote, addressing Ben Gvir. \u201cYou squandered enormous, professional, and successful efforts made by many, many people\u2014from IDF soldiers to Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees and many other fine individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you are not the face of Israel,\u201d Sa\u2019ar wrote.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tIsraeli naval commandos intercept boats in the Global Sumud Flotilla off the coast of Cyprus on May 18, 2026. (Global Sumud Flotilla)<\/p>\n

Ben Gvir, who is in charge of the police force and prison service, proudly touts his hard-handed policies. In February, he posted a video<\/a> of himself touring the Ofer Prison as guards could be seen roughly manhandling Palestinian security prisoners.<\/p>\n

The activists were detained at the Ashdod port after the Foreign Ministry said a day earlier that the latest flotilla aiming to break the naval blockade of Gaza had \u201ccome to an end<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sister of Ireland\u2019s President Catherine Connolly was also among the over 400 activists who were on board the flotilla that set sail from Turkey last week.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tFootage shows Palestinian prisoners in scenes filmed during National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir\u2019s visit to the Ofer Prison on February 13, 2026. (Screenshots\/X)<\/p>\n

Israel has dismissed the flotilla as \u201ca PR stunt at the service of Hamas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Organizers said they aimed to break Israel\u2019s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance, something aid bodies say is still in short supply, despite a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in place since October 2025 that includes guarantees of increased aid.<\/p>\n

Israeli rights group Adalah said in a statement that the activists had been \u201cdetained at Ashdod port\u201d and \u201ctaken into Israel against their will as Adalah attorneys entered for legal consultations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The flotilla\u2019s organizers said in a statement that the activists would be taken to Ketziot prison in Israel\u2019s southern Negev desert. It said that Adalah lawyers would not be able to meet them until they get to Ketziot.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tIsraeli naval commandos intercept boats in the Global Sumud Flotilla off the coast of Cyprus on May 18, 2026. (Global Sumud Flotilla)<\/p>\n

The flotilla was led by Turkish aid organization IHH, designated in Israel as a terror organization, which organized the deadly 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla to Gaza.<\/p>\n

A live feed on the Global Sumud Flotilla\u2019s website showed Israeli commandos boarding the vessels on Tuesday as activists in life vests put their hands up. The troops then destroyed cameras mounted on the ships.<\/p>\n

In a post on X, the Foreign Ministry said 430 activists would be able to meet with their consular representatives.<\/p>\n

\u201cIsrael will continue to act in full accordance with international law and will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n

The Israel Defense Forces began stopping the flotilla around 167 miles (268 kilometers) from the Gaza coastline, according to the flotilla\u2019s website. The vessels departed last week from Marmaris, Turkey, which, along with Gaza-ruling Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, called the interdictions an act of \u201cpiracy.\u201d<\/p>\n


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