Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on Wednesday showing detained activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla kneeling with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground, sparking international condemnation. The video, shared on X, showed the activists in what appeared to be a detention facility.
The flotilla, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was attempting to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. Israeli forces intercepted the ships on May 19, 2026, and detained dozens of activists. The video posted by Ben-Gvir showed some of these detainees in a humiliating position.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he was 'truly appalled' by the video, calling it a 'blatant violation of human dignity.' The United Nations also condemned the video, with a spokesperson saying it 'raises serious concerns about the treatment of detainees.'
Ben-Gvir defended the video, saying it showed 'the reality of those who try to break the law and support terrorism.' The incident has further strained relations between Israel and the international community, with several countries calling for an investigation.
