A severe diplomatic crisis has erupted after Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, published a social media video taunting detained international activists from a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla. The footage, captured at Ashdod port after the Israeli navy intercepted the 50-boat “Global Sumud Flotilla” in international waters, showed dozens of the 430 foreign detainees forced to kneel with their hands zip-tied behind their backs and their foreheads pressed to the ground while the Israeli national anthem played. In the clips, Ben-Gvir is seen waving an Israeli flag and jeering at the captives, stating, “Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords,” while demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu transfer them to high-security “terrorist prisons.” The global backlash was swift and fierce, with nations whose citizens were aboard—including the UK, France, Spain, Italy, and Canada—immediately summoning their respective Israeli ambassadors to lodge formal, high-level protests.
European Council President António Costa declared himself “appalled” by the “completely unacceptable” behavior, while Italy and Spain demanded formal apologies for the systemic humiliation of their citizens. Strikingly, even staunch allies rebuked the display; U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee slammed Ben-Gvir’s “despicable actions,” accusing him of betraying his nation’s dignity. The incident sparked fierce internal friction within Jerusalem as well. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar publicly chastised Ben-Gvir for inflicting severe diplomatic damage, while Netanyahu quickly distanced himself from the far-right minister, stating the handling of detainees ran contrary to Israel’s values and ordering the immediate deportation of the activists. Legal advocacy groups have condemned the events as a criminal campaign of abuse against humanitarian workers, while organizers emphasized that the shocking treatment of international volunteers only highlights the far harsher daily realities faced by Palestinians inside the blockaded territory.
