ALBAWABA- Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has sparked international condemnation after posting videos showing detained Gaza flotilla activists kneeling with their hands tied while Israel’s national anthem played in the background, humiliating civilians and violating their human dignity.
The controversy erupted after Israeli forces intercepted vessels belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla as the civilian-led humanitarian convoy attempted to reach Gaza in defiance of Israel’s naval blockade.
The flotilla, one of the largest maritime aid initiatives for Gaza in recent years, involved dozens of vessels and hundreds of activists from dozens of countries carrying humanitarian supplies, including baby formula and medical aid.
Israeli forces boarded several ships in international waters and detained hundreds of activists before transferring them to Ashdod.
During a visit to a detention facility and port area where activists were being held, Ben-Gvir filmed himself mocking detainees, many of whom appeared kneeling or bent forward with their hands restrained behind their backs. Waving an Israeli flag, the far-right minister referred to the activists as “flotilla terrorists,” “supporters of terrorism,” and “terrorists helping murderers.”
“Welcome to Israel, we are the masters of the house,” Ben-Gvir declared in one of the videos, while urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to keep the detainees in “terrorist prisons” for a “long, long time.”
The footage quickly triggered a wave of international outrage, with governments, rights advocates, and flotilla organizers denouncing the scenes as degrading, abusive, and incompatible with the treatment of civilians engaged in a humanitarian mission.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar publicly rebuked Ben-Gvir, calling the videos “disgraceful” and “horrendous,” and warning that the minister had severely damaged Israel’s international standing. “You are not the face of Israel,” Sa’ar reportedly told Ben-Gvir, accusing him of undermining diplomatic and military efforts. Ben-Gvir dismissed the criticism, accusing Sa’ar of siding with “supporters of terrorism.”
Italy issued one of the strongest diplomatic responses after several Italian nationals, including a lawmaker and a journalist, were detained during the flotilla interceptions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned the treatment as “unacceptable,” stating that the images violated the activists’ human dignity. Rome summoned the Israeli ambassador for explanations, demanded an apology, and pushed for the immediate release of Italian citizens.
France also voiced concern after French nationals were detained, with President Emmanuel Macron and French officials calling for the swift release and repatriation of citizens while criticizing the broader handling of the flotilla interceptions and restrictions on humanitarian access to Gaza.
Additional criticism came from Greece and other countries, while flotilla organizers accused Israel of unlawful interception in international waters, abuse of detainees, and violations of international law.
Israel defended the operation by arguing that attempts to breach the Gaza blockade pose security risks and could indirectly benefit Hamas. Israeli authorities insisted humanitarian aid should be delivered through approved channels rather than independent maritime convoys.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is part of a broader wave of international civilian campaigns challenging Israel’s blockade on Gaza since 2010. The latest confrontation has intensified diplomatic tensions and renewed global scrutiny over Israel’s treatment of activists and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
