Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was berated by his own government and the international community on Wednesday after taunting detainees from a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid.
Mr Ben-Gvir, the country's National Security Minister, waved a large Israeli flag as he announced to handcuffed activists: “Welcome to Israel.” One activist shouting “Free Palestine” was pushed to the ground and manhandled by security personnel, in footage published by Mr Ben-Gvir. The video also showed rows of detained activists kneeling and blindfolded as the far-right minister paraded amongst them.
“I say to Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, give them to me for a long, long time, give them to us for the terrorist prisons, that’s what it should look like,” Mr Ben-Gvir said.
Mr Ben-Gvir is known for provocative stunts, such as taunting Palestinian detainees and praying at the sensitive Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem. But his latest appearance went too far even for members of Mr Netanyahu's right-wing government, drawing rare domestic rebuke.
The Prime Minister said Mr Ben-Gvir's treatment of the activists was “inconsistent with the values and norms of the state of Israel”. He said, though, that Israel “has every right” to block the protest flotilla and that the activists should be expelled as soon as possible.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar went further in his criticism of Mr Ben-Gvir. “You knowingly caused harm to our state in this disgraceful display – and not for the first time,” he said.
“You have undone tremendous, professional and successful efforts made by so many people – from [Israeli] soldiers to Foreign Ministry staff and many others.”
The footage appeared to be taken on the deck of a ship at Israel's Ashdod port. Israel said 430 activists on board the Gaza flotilla boats had been moved to Israeli vessels.
Mr Ben-Gvir's antics also drew sharp criticism and backlash from the international community.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a compatriot of many of the activists, said their treatment violated human dignity and was unacceptable.
She said the Israeli ambassador in Rome would be summoned, adding that "Italy further demands an apology for the treatment meted out to these demonstrators and for the total contempt shown towards the explicit requests” of her government.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who has been a vocal critic of Israel's war on Gaza, described the footage of Mr Ben-Gvir "humiliating" members of the flotilla as "unacceptable". "We will not tolerate anyone mistreating our citizens," he wrote on X. "In September, I announced the ban on access to national territory for this member of the Israeli government. Now we are going to push in Brussels for these sanctions to be elevated to the European scale urgently."
New Zealand, Canada and Australia, which have already sanctioned Mr Ben-Gvir, also condemned his actions and summoned the Israeli ambassador to their countries.
EU Council president Antonio Costa called for the "immediate release" of the detained activists, and said he was "appalled" by the treatment they received. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Mr Ben-Gvir's actions "violate the most basic standards of respect and dignity in the way people should be treated", adding that the UK has "demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities and made clear their obligations to protect the rights of our citizens and all those involved." France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said: "Whatever one thinks of this flotilla—and we have indicated on several occasions our disapproval of this initiative—our compatriots who are participating in it must be treated with respect and released as quickly as possible."
The flotilla's organisers say participants from 40 countries were aboard 50 vessels. The flotilla was making a renewed attempt to deliver aid to war-shattered Gaza after earlier missions were also intercepted by Israel in international waters.
Video footage showed Israeli forces opening fire on at least two flotilla vessels on Tuesday, with Israel saying those were warning shots.
