Israel's Ben Gvir draws global condemnation for video of detained activists

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir posted a video on X showing dozens of foreign pro‑Palestine activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla bound, kneeling face‑down and forced into stress positions. In the clip Ben Gvir waves an Israeli flag and tells nearby guards, “don’t be bothered by their screams.”

The flotilla, which attempted to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, had about 430 participants detained by Israeli forces. Israel’s foreign ministry later announced that all activists were deported, with many flown to Istanbul.

Western governments reacted sharply: the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium summoned Israel’s ambassador, and foreign ministers issued statements calling the treatment “intolerable” and “a violation of human dignity.” U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee also condemned the video, describing the flotilla as a “stupid stunt.”

Within Israel, members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, rebuked Ben Gvir, calling the display “disgraceful.” Netanyahu criticised the minister’s actions as not reflecting Israel’s values, while Ben Gvir defended a tougher stance, saying Israel “has stopped being a pushover.”

The incident adds to ongoing international scrutiny of Israel’s handling of detainees during the Gaza conflict.