The UK government today branded a far-right Israeli minister a 'disgrace' as it added its voice to international condemnation of a video he shared showing him taunting Gaza flotilla activists.
Ministerial Criticism
Hamish Falconer, a UK minister, criticised Tel Aviv's national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over an 'inflammatory' post on social media last week. The video showed masked officers aggressively subduing activists by pushing them down, forcing them onto all fours, and dragging them across the floor. The video, posted to Ben-Gvir's X account on Wednesday, also showed him goading them, waving an Israeli flag and saying 'That's how we welcome the terror supporters. Welcome to Israel.'
The footage was swiftly condemned by politicians including Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Diplomatic Action
Today the Israeli charge d'affaires in the UK, Daniela Grudsky Ekstein, was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which said the move reflected the UK's 'strong condemnation of his (Mr Ben-Gvir's) conduct in taunting those involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla'. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Falconer accused Ben-Gvir of 'behaving outrageously towards Palestinians day in, day out, ever since he became a minister'. 'That is a disgrace and it was why the UK led an international group of our partners to impose sanctions both on Mr Ben-Gvir and (finance minister Bezalel) Smotrich in their personal capacities, which I announced from this despatch box late last year,' he added.
Concerns Over Detention
The Government has also expressed concern over the detention conditions depicted – what appeared to be a makeshift detention area at Ashdod, on Israel's coast – and has demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis added his voice to the condemnation, posting online: 'I have rarely seen the Jewish world so united in revulsion than in its response to this shameful display. Such conduct is the very antithesis of our core Jewish values and an awful Chillul Hashem (desecration of God's name).'
Foreign Office staff are working to help British activists detained in Israel return home, minister Hamish Falconer told the Commons. More than 400 people, including a number of British nationals and the sister of the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, have been detained after the attempt organised by the Global Sumud Flotilla. A similar bid by activists in 2025 also ended with Israel intercepting the vessels involved and detaining activists.
International Condemnation
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Wednesday said she was 'truly appalled' by the footage released by Mr Ben-Gvir, which showed some activists with their hands tied behind their backs and kneeling with their heads touching the floor. The videos also drew a rebuke from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said it was 'not in line with Israel's values and norms'. In a statement on X, Meloni slammed the 'unacceptable' treatment of Gaza flotilla activists detained by Israel.
Today Irish premier Micheal Martin has said there is 'growing anger' across the European Union in respect of the behaviour of Israel. He told reporters in Paris: 'First of all they were abducted in international waters, the way they had been treated in captivity is unacceptable, and then the behaviour of a government minister from Israel has been absolutely shocking, and has shocked the world.'
