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.
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 said in a statement: “The team reports systemic violations of due process, and widespread physical and psychological abuse by Israeli authorities. There were a large number of complaints of extreme violence.”
Ben-Gvir’s 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, in many cases from the top of government. 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 and the display of “total contempt” toward the Italian government. The Spanish foreign minister called the treatment “monstrous, disgraceful and inhumane”. His British counterpart, Yvette Cooper, said she was “truly appalled” by the video, which “violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity in the way people should be treated”.
European Council president Antonio Costa said he was “appalled by the treatment of flotilla members,” and called for their immediate release. Australian foreign minister Penny Wong joined international condemnation, saying: “The images we have seen are shocking and unacceptable. We condemn the actions of Israeli minister Ben-Gvir – who Australia has sanctioned – and the degrading actions of Israeli authorities towards those detained.” New Zealand’s foreign affairs minister, Winston Peters, instructed the ministry to call in the Israeli ambassador so his “grave concerns” could be directly passed on. Peters said New Zealand had placed a travel ban on Ben-Gvir in 2025 for “severely and deliberately undermining peace and security, and removing prospects for a two-state solution”.
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. Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters on Tuesday and brought everyone onboard to Israel. 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.
