Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is facing widespread international condemnation after posting videos showing detained Gaza flotilla activists kneeling handcuffed on the ground while he appeared to mock and taunt them.

2026, May 21

Israel

The activists were part of a large international flotilla attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge Israel’s naval blockade. Israeli forces intercepted the vessels in international waters, detaining hundreds of people from multiple countries.

The backlash intensified after Ben-Gvir shared footage online showing detainees zip-tied and kneeling in rows. Several governments — including France, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Australia — summoned Israeli diplomats or formally protested the treatment.

The European Commission called the treatment “completely unacceptable” and stressed that detainees must be treated with dignity and according to international law.

Even within Israel, the incident caused political friction:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly criticized Ben-Gvir privately and called for faster deportations to defuse the diplomatic crisis.
Lawyers representing activists alleged some detainees suffered broken ribs and other injuries during arrest operations.
Ben-Gvir defended the actions, arguing the flotilla was supporting Hamas propaganda and attempting to violate Israeli sovereignty.

The flotilla incident has become another flashpoint in the wider international debate over:

Israel’s blockade of Gaza,
humanitarian access,
treatment of foreign activists,
and the growing influence of far-right ministers inside Netanyahu’s coalition government.

Some Western governments are now weighing additional diplomatic measures against Ben-Gvir personally. Canada and Spain have already discussed sanctions related to earlier allegations of incitement and extremist rhetoric.