Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has sparked a diplomatic crisis by publishing footage of Israeli security forces abusing international activists who were detained as they tried to sail to Gaza with aid. The video, posted on his social media account with the caption "Welcome to Israel" in English, shows dozens of men and women kneeling in rows, with their foreheads to the ground and hands zip-tied behind their backs. Ben-Gvir appears waving an Israeli flag, mocking and taunting the detainees, including shouting "The people of Israel live" in the face of one bound man.
Global Condemnation
The video drew a rapid and furious response from countries whose citizens were onboard the boats, including the UK, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, described Ben-Gvir's behaviour as "despicable" and said the minister had "betrayed the dignity of his nation." Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said the images were "unacceptable" and demanded the release of all Italian citizens involved, along with an apology for the mistreatment. The Spanish foreign minister called the treatment "monstrous, disgraceful and inhumane." British counterpart Yvette Cooper said she was "truly appalled" by the video, which "violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity."
Allegations of Abuse
Three activists were taken to hospital as a result of Israeli violence, lawyers representing the group said. They were subsequently discharged. Dozens of others have suspected broken ribs, resulting in breathing problems. The rights group Adalah reported "systemic violations of due process, and widespread physical and psychological abuse by Israeli authorities," including "a large number of complaints of extreme violence." Detained flotilla members told lawyers they faced violence when their boats were intercepted, on Israeli military boats, and during transfer to the port, including the use of rubber bullets and tasers. Israeli authorities forced the activists into stress positions, forced them to sit on their knees for prolonged periods, and forced them to bend double. In addition to physical abuse, detainees "were subjected to severe degradation and sexual harassment and humiliation," Adalah said. Several women reported that their hijabs were ripped off.
Israeli Response
The global outrage prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to condemn Ben-Gvir within hours of the video being published online. "The way that minister Ben-Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel's values and norms," he said, adding that he had ordered the deportation of the group "as soon as possible." Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar launched a more scathing personal attack on the minister, stating, "You knowingly caused harm to our state in this disgraceful display – and not for the first time. You are not the face of Israel." Ben-Gvir appeared to relish the censure, replying, "Israel has stopped being a pushover."
Broader Context
More than 400 activists from 40 countries, travelling on 50 vessels, took part in the flotilla, organisers said. It set off from Turkey carrying food and other aid, in the latest high-profile attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Seven months after a ceasefire came into force in Gaza, hunger is widespread, most Palestinians live in tents or overcrowded shelters without adequate sanitation or access to clean water, and Israeli attacks are still a near-daily occurrence. Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters on Tuesday and brought everyone onboard to Israel. Rights groups have documented widespread, systemic torture and abuse of Palestinians in Israeli prisons and detention centres during Israel's war in Gaza, sparked by the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023.
Expert Analysis
Sari Bashi, director of the rights group Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, said Ben-Gvir's video reflected a broader culture of impunity. "To me it's just an indication of how badly the rights and welfare of detainees have suffered under [Ben-Gvir's] leadership," Bashi said. "A prison guard who sees his boss's boss express pride in the mistreatment of foreign detainees will have no qualms about abusing Palestinian detainees and he won't even have to be afraid to get caught. Ben-Gvir is saying that this behaviour is welcomed and encouraged at the highest level."
The legal rights group Adalah, which represents some of those detained, said it had "documented similar patterns of ill-treatment against activists in previous flotilla missions, for which Israel faced zero accountability," and called for the international community to take urgent action to protect activists held by Israel. The video was released the day after another far-right member of the Israeli cabinet, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, announced that he had ordered the ethnic cleansing of a Palestinian village in response to reports that the International Criminal Court was seeking a warrant for his arrest.
