A video showing roughly 430 activists bound and kneeling after Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud flotilla has landed Israel in a diplomatic storm. It shows National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir waving an Israeli flag and telling detainees, "Welcome to Israel, we're the landlords," while urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to lock them up for a long time. Several European governments summoned Israeli ambassadors and criticised the treatment; Netanyahu said Israel had the right to stop "provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters", ordered the activists deported as soon as possible, and criticised Ben-Gvir's conduct.

The footage is a political provocation, not a routine security operation, and it has landed Israel in a diplomatic storm. The clips, posted by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, show roughly 430 activists from the Global Sumud flotilla bound with hands behind their backs and kneeling after Israeli forces intercepted their vessels in international waters off Cyprus earlier this week. Ben-Gvir is seen parading among the detainees with a large Israeli flag and telling them, "Welcome to Israel, we're the landlords," while urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "give them to me for a long, long time" in prison.

Diplomatic fallout and domestic division

The videos prompted immediate diplomatic protests across Europe. Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands summoned Israeli ambassadors to seek explanations. Ireland's Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said she was "appalled" and demanded the "immediate release" of detained Irish nationals. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the treatment "violates their human dignity." South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung described the action as "way out of line." Britain's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Ben-Gvir's conduct "violates the most basic standards of respect." The European Commissioner responsible for equality, preparedness and crisis management, Hadja Lahbib, wrote that "no one should be punished for defending humanity."

The incident exposed a sharp split inside Israel's government. Prime Minister Netanyahu defended the navy's right to intercept what he called "provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters," but he also said Ben-Gvir's behaviour was "not in line with Israel's values and norms." Netanyahu ordered that the activists be deported "as soon as possible." Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar took to X to criticise Ben-Gvir, saying the minister had "knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display" and that the episode had undone "tremendous, professional and successful efforts made by so many people."

Mastheads

What happened at sea and who was involved

Organisers of the Global Sumud mission said the flotilla involved about 50 vessels and participants from more than 40 countries attempting a renewed delivery of aid to Gaza. Israeli authorities say their forces transferred roughly 430 activists to navy ships and later to Ashdod port. The footage posted by Ben-Gvir appears to show a makeshift detention area both on the deck of a ship and at Ashdod, with detainees kneeling and their heads touching the floor.

According to Israeli statements, forces fired warning shots at least at two flotilla vessels during the interceptions. Organisers and several governments have condemned the interceptions themselves as unlawful because the flotilla was in international waters.

Activists and their supporters have staged protests in European capitals since the footage emerged.

At least one handcuffed activist shown shouting "Free Palestine" is pushed to the ground by security personnel as Ben-Gvir walks past in the video. Israeli human rights organisations, including the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Adalah, accused authorities of following "a criminal policy of abuse and humiliation" and said the footage echoed patterns seen in previous flotilla interceptions.

Ben-Gvir is a leading figure of Israel's far-right and a member of the Jewish Power party, a partner in Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition. He has a history of provocative public acts that have drawn criticism, including past confrontations and visits to contested religious sites. Organisers of the flotilla framed the voyage as a humanitarian effort to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza; Israeli officials described some participants as sympathetic to Hamas and argued the navy is entitled to stop ships approaching Gaza.

Related Articles

Netanyahu has ordered the activists deported as soon as possible. European governments have summoned Israeli ambassadors and continue to demand explanations.

This article was created with AI assistance.