Israeli Minister's Footage of Activists Sparks Global Outcry

Governments around the world have logged their displeasure at Israel after national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared footage of himself encouraging the alleged mistreatment of activists from 40 countries, including the UK, Canada, Spain, Italy, and South Korea. The video released Wednesday shows Ben-Gvir at a detention site in Ashdod where Israeli forces were holding hundreds of foreign activists seized from a Gaza aid flotilla in international waters. Detainees kneel in rows, zip-tied with their faces to the ground, as Ben-Gvir waves an Israeli flag and jeers at them, saying, "Welcome to Israel. We are the masters," per the BBC. Ben-Gvir is also shown encouraging security agents to push down a female activist who shouts, "Free Palestine."

The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, denounced Ben-Gvir's conduct as "despicable" and a betrayal of his country's dignity, per the Guardian. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney blasted the "abominable treatment of civilians," while Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni demanded an apology and the release of Italians held. Spain's foreign minister branded the scenes "monstrous" and "inhumane," while British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was "truly appalled." Australia, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium called the actions "unacceptable," adding they had summoned their Israeli ambassadors. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had previously questioned the legality of the arrests in international waters.

The flotilla's organizers say more than 400 activists set sail from Turkey on 50 vessels with food and other aid, aiming to breach Israel's long-running blockade of Gaza, where widespread hunger, displacement, and near-daily attacks continue months after a ceasefire. Israeli forces intercepted the ships this week and towed them to Israel. Adalah, a rights group representing the detainees, says they were physically abused, including with rubber bullets and Tasers, resulting in broken ribs and other injuries, continuing a pattern seen with other detained activists, per the BBC. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since publicly rebuked his own minister, saying Ben-Gvir's behavior "is not in line with Israel's values," and ordered the detainees deported "as soon as possible."