Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir is facing widespread condemnation after video footage emerged showing him taunting and humiliating handcuffed activists detained from a Gaza-bound flotilla. The activists, who were attempting to breach Israel's naval blockade, were forced to kneel face down on the floor with their hands tied behind their backs in a makeshift detention area at Ashdod port and on the deck of a navy ship.
In the video, Ben Gvir can be seen smirking as he walks among the approximately 430 detainees, waving a large Israeli flag and telling them, 'Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords.' When one activist, identified by activists as Irish woman Caitriona Graham, shouted 'Free Palestine,' she was quickly pushed to the ground by security personnel, her head forced to the floor as Ben Gvir was ushered away smiling.
The incident has sparked outrage from Irish officials and human rights groups. Stephen Bowen, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, stated, 'The courage of Catriona Graham in the face of Israeli outrages puts our leadership to shame.' Ireland's foreign minister Helen McEntee condemned the video as 'utterly appalling and unacceptable behaviour' and confirmed that the Irish Embassy has formally raised the matter with Israeli authorities, demanding proper and humane treatment of Irish citizens.
Netanyahu Distances Himself
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement acknowledging Israel's right to stop 'provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters' but emphasized that Ben Gvir's conduct 'is not in line with Israel's values and norms.' Netanyahu confirmed he has given instructions for the activists to be deported 'as soon as possible.'
The controversy has also triggered a public feud within the Israeli government. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar publicly chastised Ben Gvir on social media, posting that he 'knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display' and had 'undone tremendous, professional and successful efforts made by so many people.' Sa'ar added, 'No, you are not the face of Israel.'
Ben Gvir fired back in the Israeli parliament, accusing Sa'ar of 'bowing to the terrorists' and calling it 'a disgrace and a shame.' He argued that any apology to the activists would send a message of 'weakness,' 'submission,' and 'surrender.' Defending his actions, he said, 'Is he worried about the images? I am worried about the security of the residents of the state of Israel, and I care about them.'
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, accused Israeli authorities of 'employing a criminal policy of abuse and humiliation against activists,' noting that similar patterns of ill-treatment have occurred in previous flotilla missions 'for which Israel faced zero accountability.' The group stated that its lawyers and volunteers are providing legal advice to the detainees and demanding their immediate release. 'The international community must take urgent measures to protect the flotilla members against this brutal and illegal conduct by Israeli officials,' Adalah said.
Flotilla organizers reported that activists from more than 40 countries were 'being subjected to violent abuse after being illegally abducted at sea' while attempting to bypass the Gaza blockade. In a post on Telegram, they urged the international community to end the blockade and release all 9,500 Palestinians 'held in Israeli torture dungeons.'
