Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted a video on Wednesday showing detained Gaza-bound flotilla activists kneeling with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground, sparking international condemnation.

Ben Gvir shared the footage on X after Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla’s vessels and began detaining hundreds of foreign activists at the southern port of Ashdod.

The video drew swift criticism from Israel’s own Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

What did Ben Gvir’s flotilla video show?

The footage, captioned “Welcome to Israel,” shows dozens of activists forced to kneel with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground, with the Israeli national anthem audible in the background at points.

The video also shows Ben Gvir heckling the detained activists and waving an Israeli flag among them.

How did Israeli leaders respond to the video?

Netanyahu said Ben Gvir’s conduct was “not in line with Israel’s values and norms” and pledged to deport the activists “as soon as possible.”

Foreign Minister Saar said Ben Gvir had “knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display, and not for the first time.” Ben Gvir hit back, saying he was “proud” of the organizations involved and told parliament that the images were “a great source of pride.”

What did the US and international community say?

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee denounced what he called Ben Gvir’s “despicable actions” on X, writing that there had been “universal outrage and condemnation from every high-ranking Israeli official.”

European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said “no one should be punished for defending humanity.” Belgium and France summoned the Israeli ambassadors in their capitals, with Paris describing Ben Gvir’s actions as “unacceptable.”

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Poland and Turkey also condemned the incident. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the treatment of civilians aboard the flotilla “abominable” and said the Israeli ambassador would be summoned.

Ireland’s Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said she was “appalled and shocked” by the video and demanded the immediate release of the activists, who include the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly.

What did rights groups say about the detained activists?

Non-profit legal group Adalah said Israel was “employing a criminal policy of abuse and humiliation against activists seeking to confront Israel’s ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people.” Lawyers from the group travelled to the detention center to meet the detainees. Hamas called the footage evidence of Israeli leaders’ “moral depravity and sadism.”

What was the Global Sumud Flotilla trying to do?

Around 50 vessels under the Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Turkey last week in the latest attempt by activists to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Israeli authorities said 430 activists were aboard, while Adalah said some had already arrived at Ashdod port and were being held there.

Netanyahu had earlier described the flotilla as “a malicious scheme designed to break the blockade we have imposed on Hamas terrorists in Gaza.”

What is the background to the Gaza blockade?

Israel controls all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007. During the Gaza war, the territory suffered severe shortages of food, medicine, and other essential supplies, with Israel at times halting aid deliveries entirely. Hamas, whose attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 sparked the war, now controls less than half of Gaza.

A previous flotilla attempt was intercepted last month in international waters off Greece, with most activists expelled to Europe. Two were brought to Israel, detained for several days, and then deported.