After videos of Itamar Ben-Gvir's treatment of pro-Palestinian flotilla members surfaced online, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a rebuke to his national security minister.
Ben-Gvir shared a video of himself making fun of protestors while they are being held captive by Israeli security forces.
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In one video that he uploaded, the far-right government minister — who has been sanctioned by U.S. allies for inciting violence against Palestinians — can be seen strolling among some of the around 430 Sumud Global Flotilla activists who are being held by police and troops.
"Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords," the government official tells some of the activists while brandishing a big Israeli flag.
In a video, a shackled activist can be seen yelling "Free Palestine" as Ben-Gvir passes by. Security guards instantly force the activist to the ground.
In what looks to be an improvised detention camp at Israel's Ashdod port and on the deck of a ship, the video depicts activists with their wrists bound behind their backs, kneeling with their heads touching the ground.
Ben-Gvir claims that the activists "came here all full of pride like big heroes" in a different video. "Look at them now," he said, pleading with Netanyahu to allow him to put them in jail for a "long, long time."
Netanyahu criticised Ben-Gvir's conduct in the video on Wednesday, but he defended intercepting the flotilla.
"Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza," he stated in a statement. "However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel's values and norms."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 20, 2026
“Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza.
However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with…
In response to the treatment of the kidnapped Gaza flotilla activists, Spain has joined other countries in calling Israeli embassies.
The action is "in response to the monstrous, undignified, and humiliating treatment by an Israeli minister toward the Spaniards and the rest of the flotilla members," according to a post made by Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on X.
Following a video of the Gaza flotilla, Turkey denounces Israel's "barbaric mentality."
Regarding the verbal and physical abuse of activists on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, Turkey has condemned Israel.
The humanitarian caravan to Gaza was stopped by the Israeli military in international waters.
The Foreign Ministry released a statement saying, "The minister in question, one of the main actors of the genocide carried out by Israel in Gaza, has once again openly demonstrated to the whole world the violent and barbaric mentality of the Netanyahu government."
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The maltreatment of Gaza flotilla activists has prompted France to call an Israeli envoy.
In response to a video depicting the mistreatment of flotilla activists headed for Gaza, France and Italy have both summoned their respective Israeli ambassadors.
The far-right Israeli minister Ben-Gvir's activities against the international campaigners were denounced as "unacceptable" by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.
The protection of French citizens is a top priority, Barrot said on X. "I've asked that the Israeli ambassador to France be summoned to express our outrage and obtain explanations."
Despite France's "disapproval" of the flotilla's strategies, he continued, French members who have been detained by Israel "must be treated with respect and released as soon as possible."
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