Israel’s Ben-Gvir Sparks Global Outrage Over Video of Bound Flotilla Activists
Israel’s Ben-Gvir Sparks Global Outrage Over Video of Bound Flotilla Activists
A controversial video from Israel's National Security Minister showing bound activists has triggered a massive international backlash. See the latest updates here.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has sparked a firestorm of international criticism after posting a video showing pro-Palestinian activists kneeling and bound. The footage, captioned with the phrase "Welcome to Israel," shows the minister walking among approximately 430 detainees who were intercepted as part of a Gaza-bound flotilla.
The video has led to swift condemnation from world leaders and even a public rebuke from Israel's own Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. In the clips shared on social media, dozens of activists are seen forced to kneel with their hands tied behind their backs and their foreheads touching the ground while the Israeli national anthem plays in the background. Ben-Gvir can be seen heckling the group while waving an Israeli flag.
The fallout has been immediate, and diplomatic tensions are rising across Europe and the Middle East. Countries including France and Spain have summoned Israeli diplomats to protest what they described as "unacceptable" and "monstrous" treatment. Ireland, Italy, and Greece have also called for the immediate release of their citizens held in the group, with Irish officials expressing shock over the treatment of the activists.
Back in Israel, the internal reaction was equally sharp. Prime Minister Netanyahu distanced himself from the video, stating that Ben-Gvir’s conduct was not in line with the nation’s values and norms. The Prime Minister has since instructed authorities to begin the process of deporting the activists involved. Despite the internal rebukes, the video continues to circulate widely, drawing intense scrutiny toward the Israeli government's handling of the flotilla incident at the port of Ashdod.
