'Welcome to Israel': Ben Gvir's treatment of Gaza flotilla detainees sparks backlash

“'Welcome to Israel': Ben Gvir's treatment of Gaza flotilla detainees sparks backlash Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 18:57 European leaders, Israeli officials and social media users criticised footage posted by Israel’s national security minister Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir seen taunting flotilla activists in video posted online (screengrab/X) Off A video posted by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir showing detained Gaza flotilla activists kneeling in front of Israeli law enforcement officers with their hands restrained has triggered international condemnation and a wave of outrage online. Israeli forces intercepted all 77 ships participating in the latest flotilla mission, the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF ), organisers said on Tuesday, more than a day after the interceptions began. According to flotilla organisers, the Israeli navy deployed a “fully equipped naval fleet” to stop and board the vessels before detaining hundreds of international volunteers. Politicians and social media users are accusing Israel of humiliating civilians intercepted while attempting to reach Gaza. The backlash came after Israeli forces intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian aid mission that seeks to deliver aid to Gaza and break Israel’s siege of the enclave. Israeli authorities detained activists aboard the vessels and brought them to Ashdod port, prompting criticism from politicians and rights advocates. International officials condemn footage The footage spurred reactions across Europe online. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the treatment seen in the footage in a post on X, calling the images “unacceptable” and saying it was “inadmissible” that demonstrators, including Italian citizens, were subjected to treatment that “violates human dignity”. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed those concerns in a post on X, saying Israel’s ambassador to Italy had been summoned over the handling of detainees. Le immagini del ministro israeliano Ben Gvir sono inaccettabili. È inammissibile che questi manifestanti, fra cui molti cittadini italiani, vengano sottoposti a questo trattamento lesivo della dignità della persona. Il Governo italiano sta immediatamente compiendo, ai più alti… — Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) May 20, 2026 Quanto emerge dal video del Ministro Ben Gvir è assolutamente inaccettabile e contro ogni elementare tutela della dignità umana. D’intesa con il Presidente del Consiglio ho fatto convocare immediatamente alla Farnesina l’Ambasciatore d’Israele in Italia. — Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) May 20, 2026 The interceptions of the flotillas in international waters had already drawn criticism from several governments and rights groups, but Israel's treatment of the detainees amplified the condemnations. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also responded on X, expressing France’s “indignation” over Ben Gvir’s actions, saying Israel’s ambassador would be summoned for an explanation. Barrot added that French nationals aboard “must be treated with respect and released as quickly as possible”. Les agissements de M. Ben Gvir à l'égard des passagers de la flottille Global Smud, dénoncés par ses propres collègues au gouvernement israélien, sont inadmissibles. J'ai demandé que l'ambassadeur d'Israël en France soit convoqué pour exprimer notre indignation et obtenir des… — Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) May 20, 2026 Irish MEP Barry Andrews also responded on X, highlighting that one of those shown in the footage was an Irish citizen and calling for sanctions against both Ben Gvir and Israel. That is an Irish woman 🇮🇪. Sanction Ben Gvir now. Sanction Israel now 🇮🇱. How long can Berlin 🇩🇪 and Rome 🇮🇹 still block EU action? https://t.co/eVOufmAEkb — Barry Andrews MEP (@BarryAndrewsMEP) May 20, 2026 Irish lawmaker Paul Murphy also identified the Irish woman shown in the footage as Caitriona Graham, saying: “This is how our citizens are being treated by Israel,” while accusing Israel of abducting activists in international waters and subjecting detainees to “humiliation, stress positions, aggression and violence”. The woman in this video is Caitriona Graham an Irish citizen. This is how our citizens are being treated by Israel , having been abducted in international waters, trafficked to a third state and now experiencing humiliation, stress positions, aggression and violence. pic.twitter.com/WYir3Ht7E7 — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) May 20, 2026 British MP Zarah Sultana also joined criticism online, writing: “Zionism is racism.” Zionism is racism. https://t.co/B6elNQoVGc — Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) May 20, 2026 Backlash grows within Israel Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar was among officials criticising Ben Gvir online. In a post on X, Sa’ar accused the national security minister of knowingly harming Israel through a “disgraceful display”, saying he had undone diplomatic and military efforts carried out by Israeli officials and soldiers. “No, you are not the face of Israel,” Sa’ar wrote. You knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display - and not for the first time. You have undone tremendous, professional, and successful efforts made by so many people - from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry staff and many others. No, you are not the face of… https://t.co/KOj6fhpyM7 — Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) May 20, 2026 Opposition leader Yair Lapid also criticised Ben Gvir in a post on X, describing the footage as a “terrorist attack” carried out by the national security minister. Lapid said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ultimately bore responsibility for bringing “a convicted criminal into the government”. את הפיגוע ההסברתי היום עשה בן גביר אבל מי שאחראי לפיגוע החמור הזה, הוא ראש הממשלה שהכניס עבריין מורשע לתוך הממשלה, וכל אחד שהסכים להיות שותף של אדם כלכך חסר אחריות — יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) May 20, 2026 However, Netanyahu defended Israel’s interception of the flotilla on X, saying the country had “every right” to prevent what he described as “provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters” from reaching Gaza. He added that Ben Gvir’s handling of detained activists was “not in line with Israel’s values and norms”. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “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… — Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 20, 2026 Palestinian officials condemn the footage Palestinian voices also joined the criticism online. The official X account of the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations reacted to the footage, writing: “Can you imagine the terror and horror Israel inflicts on Palestinian children, women, and men in detention centres when the cameras are away?” The account described the treatment shown in the footage as “Israeli terrorism”. Can you imagine the terror and horror Israel inflicts on Palestinian children, women, and men in detention centers when the cameras are away? This is Israeli terrorism. https://t.co/KYpAkxIc6x — State of Palestine (@Palestine_UN) May 20, 2026 Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti, meanwhile, wrote on X that activists aboard the Freedom Flotilla had been “taken hostage in international waters”, describing it as a violation of international law, and added: “When accountability is absent crimes continue.” The Israeli fascist minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and the Israeli occupation oppressive army are abusing and suppressing activists from the “Freedom Flotilla” that sailed from Turkey to break the siege on Gaza Strip. The activists were taken hostages in international waters in grave… pic.twitter.com/exYdwQMugK — Mustafa Barghouti @Mustafa_Barghouti (@MustafaBarghou1) May 20, 2026 Journalists condemn footage online British journalist Owen Jones also criticised reactions to the footage in a post on X, accusing some supporters of Israel condemning Ben Gvir’s actions of being more concerned about the treatment of “white Westerners” than Palestinians. Jones argued outrage only intensified when Western activists were affected, adding: “They don’t care if it’s Palestinians being tortured and massacred.” The pro-Israel people kicking off over Ben-Gvir are morally repulsive. It’s so transparent they’re just worried abusing white Westerners will turn Western public opinion further against them. They don’t care if it’s Palestinians being tortured and massacred, Racist scum. https://t.co/5UwMqBNWm0 — Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) May 20, 2026 American journalist Max Blumenthal also commented on X, saying Ben Gvir “enjoys scenes of the Israeli government's proudly promoted torture of citizens of Italy and other European nations” following the detention of flotilla activists. Blumenthal concluded his post by writing: “This is Zionism.” After Itamar Ben Gvir physically assaults a humanitarian activist, he enjoys scenes of the Israeli government's proudly promoted torture of citizens of Italy and other European nations This is Zionism https://t.co/ClMUBGJGEi — Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) May 20, 2026 Israel's genocide in Gaza Trending Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:29 Update Date Override 0

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