Global Outcry over Israeli Minister’s Video Taunting Gaza Flotilla Activists
A video posted by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, showing him encouraging security personnel to mistreat detained activists who were on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, has sparked global condemnation.
Mistreating Activists
In the video, captioned “Welcome to Israel,” dozens of activists appear kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs in a detention facility while the far-right Israeli Minister waves Israel’s flag and tells them in Hebrew: “Welcome to Israel. We are the masters.”
ככה אנחנו מקבלים את תומכי הטרור
Welcome to Israel 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/7Hf8cAg7fC
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 20, 2026
Ben-Gvir is seen encouraging security personnel to push down a female activist shouting “free, free Palestine” as he walked by. The footage also shows other activists kneeling on the deck of a ship as the Israeli national anthem is played.
Italy’s Condemnation
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni slammed the video as “unacceptable,” demanded an apology and called for the immediate release of any detained Italian nationals.
“It is inadmissible that these demonstrators, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates human dignity. The Italian Government is immediately taking, at the highest institutional levels, all necessary steps to secure the immediate release of the Italian citizens involved,” Meloni said in a statement.
“Italy further demands an apology for the treatment reserved to these demonstrators and for the total contempt shown toward the explicit requests of the Italian Government,” she noted, adding that the Italian foreign ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador to request a formal clarification.
European Disapproval
Similarly, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot blasted Ben-Gvir’s actions as “unacceptable” and summoned the Israeli ambassador to Paris.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares described the treatment of the activists as “monstrous, disgraceful and inhumane.”
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Foreign Minister Helen McEntee demanded the immediate release of the “illegally detained” activists, saying that she was “appalled and shocked” by the video.
The video also drew criticism from Portugal’s Foreign Ministry, which condemned “the intolerable conduct of Israeli Minister Ben Gvir and the treatment inflicted on the flotilla activists.”
Additionally, Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry slammed the video, saying that Ben-Gvir “has once again openly demonstrated to the world the violent and barbaric mentality of the Netanyahu government.”
Israeli Rebuke
The video sparked a sharp rebuke from senior Israeli officials. Israel’s Prime Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that Ben-Gvir’s actions are “not in line with Israel’s values and norms,” while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the video a “disgraceful display” that harms Israel.
Israeli security forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of 430 activists that had departed Türkiye last week in an attempt to challenge the naval blockade on Gaza. The captured participants have since been transferred to Ashdod Port in Israel.
