Ben-Gvir Posts Video Taunting 430 Detained Flotilla Activists, Drawing Rebukes at Home and Abroad
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 20
Ben-Gvir Posts Video Taunting 430 Detained Flotilla Activists, Drawing Rebukes at Home and Abroad
8 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 20
A minute-long video posted Wednesday by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir showed handcuffed pro-Palestinian activists pinned to a ship’s deck as Israel’s national anthem played.
Ben-Gvir captioned the footage, “This is how we receive terror supporters,” after the Israeli Navy intercepted a protest flotilla trying to reach Gaza and detained 430 people at a southern Israeli port.
Italy, Spain and France condemned the video and said they would summon Israel’s ambassadors; Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni demanded an apology, calling the treatment a violation of human dignity.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite relying on Ben-Gvir politically, said the minister’s conduct was not in line with Israel’s values and ordered authorities to deport the activists quickly.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also broke with Ben-Gvir, saying the minister had knowingly damaged Israel with a disgraceful spectacle.
Did a minister's video of humiliated activists strengthen Israel's security or just ignite a global diplomatic crisis?
Was the Gaza aid flotilla a humanitarian mission or a 'pro-Hamas' provocation, as the US Treasury claims?