PM issues rare rebuke, says conduct doesn't reflect Israeli values

Ben Gvir posts video of himself taunting bound and detained Gaza flotilla activists, sparks global outcry

Clip shows minister waving Israeli flag as activists forced to kneel on ground and national anthem blasts over loudspeaker; Italy, France summon Israeli envoys over treatment of their citizens

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted a video on Wednesday in which he is seen taunting activists from a Gaza flotilla intercepted by Israel, immediately sparking an international outcry.

Dozens of activists can be seen in the clip forced to kneel on the ground, with their hands tied, at an Ashdod port facility where they were being processed ahead of their likely deportation.

Those aboard the flotilla intercepted by Israel earlier this week included Italian and Spanish nationals, whose governments said they would summon the respective Israeli ambassadors in their countries for a reprimand over Ben Gvir’s behavior. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare rebuke of the far-right cabinet member he appointed, insisting that the national security minister’s conduct was not in line with Israel’s values.

The video begins with a female activist shouting “Free Palestine,” before being grabbed by the head and shoved to the ground by officers who drag her out of Ben Gvir’s way, as he tours the facility.

The treatment of the detainees appeared akin to security forces’ handling of the most severe terrorists in the prisons overseen by Ben Gvir’s office, which has also prompted allegations of abuse.

With dozens of bound activists kneeling on the ground, Ben Gvir is seen waving a large Israeli flag and shouting in Hebrew, “Welcome to Israel! We are in charge here!”

Another shot pans through the kneeling activists, as Israel’s national anthem is blasted over a loudspeaker. Ben Gvir is subsequently seen shouting “Am Yisrael Chai” (the nation of Israel lives) at a bound detainee trying to argue with him.

Ben Gvir is also heard urging guards at the facility “not [to] be bothered by their screams,” as a woman can be heard crying out in the background.

International furor

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the clip “unacceptable,” taking issue with the treatment of activists that violated their human dignity. Italy’s foreign ministry said a member of the country’s parliament and a journalist were among those detained.

Meloni wrote on X that her government was taking immediate steps at the highest levels to secure the release of all Italian citizens who were detained.

“Italy further demands an apology for the treatment of these demonstrators and for the utter contempt shown toward the explicit requests of the Italian government,” she said, adding that Israel’s ambassador in Rome would also be summoned.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot tweeted that he too had summoned Israel’s ambassador in Paris over the mistreatment of the French nationals aboard the flotilla.

“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,” he wrote.

Citizens of South Korea were also among those detained by Israeli naval forces, President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday, calling Israel’s actions “way out of line.”

Spain and Ireland also issued statements, calling out Ben Gvir’s “monstrous” and “appalling” behavior.

Even US President Donald Trump’s administration issued a rare critique, calling Ben Gvir’s actions “despicable.

“Flotilla was stupid stunt, but Ben Gvir betrayed dignity of his nation,” wrote US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on X.

PM, FM criticism

As international outcry quickly mounted, Netanyahu issued a rare statement criticizing one of his own ministers.

“Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza. However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel’s values and norms,” Netanyahu said.

“I have instructed the relevant authorities to deport the provocateurs as soon as possible,” the premier added.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also posted a sharp reprimand of Ben Gvir in English from his personal X account, which was also shared by the Foreign Ministry’s official feed.

“You deliberately caused damage to the state with this disgraceful performance, and not for the first time,” Sa’ar wrote, addressing Ben Gvir. “You squandered enormous, professional, and successful efforts made by many, many people—from IDF soldiers to Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees and many other fine individuals.”

“No, you are not the face of Israel,” Sa’ar wrote.

Ben Gvir, who is in charge of the police force and prison service, proudly touts his hard-handed policies. In February, he posted a video of himself touring the Ofer Prison as guards could be seen roughly manhandling Palestinian security prisoners.

The activists were detained at the Ashdod port after the Foreign Ministry said a day earlier that the latest flotilla aiming to break the naval blockade of Gaza had “come to an end.”

The sister of Ireland’s President Catherine Connolly was also among the over 400 activists who were on board the flotilla that set sail from Turkey last week.

Israel has dismissed the flotilla as “a PR stunt at the service of Hamas.”

Organizers said they aimed to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance, something aid bodies say is still in short supply, despite a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in place since October 2025 that includes guarantees of increased aid.

Israeli rights group Adalah said in a statement that the activists had been “detained at Ashdod port” and “taken into Israel against their will as Adalah attorneys entered for legal consultations.”

The flotilla’s organizers said in a statement that the activists would be taken to Ketziot prison in Israel’s southern Negev desert. It said that Adalah lawyers would not be able to meet them until they get to Ketziot.

The flotilla was led by Turkish aid organization IHH, designated in Israel as a terror organization, which organized the deadly 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla to Gaza.

A live feed on the Global Sumud Flotilla’s website showed Israeli commandos boarding the vessels on Tuesday as activists in life vests put their hands up. The troops then destroyed cameras mounted on the ships.

In a post on X, the Foreign Ministry said 430 activists would be able to meet with their consular representatives.

“Israel will continue to act in full accordance with international law and will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,” the statement added.

The Israel Defense Forces began stopping the flotilla around 167 miles (268 kilometers) from the Gaza coastline, according to the flotilla’s website. The vessels departed last week from Marmaris, Turkey, which, along with Gaza-ruling Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, called the interdictions an act of “piracy.”