UK Summons Israeli Diplomat Over Ben-Gvir Video as Israel Deports Hundreds of Gaza Flotilla Activists
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 21
UK Summons Israeli Diplomat Over Ben-Gvir Video as Israel Deports Hundreds of Gaza Flotilla Activists
7 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 21
Britain summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires after a video showed security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting handcuffed, kneeling Gaza flotilla activists detained after Israel intercepted their boats.
Hundreds of activists were being released and deported via an airport near Eilat, according to Adalah, while one Israeli participant faced a court hearing in Ashkelon on illegal-entry and unlawful-stay charges.
Italy asked the EU to discuss sanctions on Ben-Gvir, Poland sought to bar his entry, Greece demanded its nationals’ release, and Turkey said it was sending planes to retrieve about 85 citizens.
The backlash spread beyond Europe: European Council President Antonio Costa said he was appalled, while Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and even US ambassador Mike Huckabee criticized Ben-Gvir’s conduct.
The unusually broad condemnation reflects mounting frustration with Israel’s Gaza policy and revived scrutiny of its long-running naval blockade, enforced against aid flotillas since at least the deadly 2010 Mavi Marmara raid.
Why did the US sanction activists after its ambassador condemned Israel's 'disgraceful display'?
Can Netanyahu's government survive the internal rift from Ben-Gvir's globally condemned flotilla video?
Israel’s 2026 Interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla: 428 Activists Detained, Abuse Allegations, and International Outcry
Overview
On May 19, 2026, Israeli forces intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla off the coast of Cyprus as it attempted to breach the naval blockade on Gaza. The Israeli government had warned it would not allow any breach, and after the interception, activists aboard the flotilla were detained. Reports from the legal team Adalah described violent attacks against activists, including being forced into stress positions and having their legal status and wellbeing information restricted. These actions quickly sparked a global outcry, leading to widespread international condemnation and raising serious questions about Israel’s treatment of humanitarian activists and its adherence to international law.