Israeli forces illegally intercepted a Gaza-bound human rights aid flotilla consisting of 50 vessels in international waters, detaining 430 activists from 40 countries, including Italy and South Korea. The participants were transported to Ashdod port ahead of a scheduled transfer to Ketziot prison in the Negev desert, drawing immediate global condemnation, official diplomatic interventions and viral public backlash.
The flotilla had departed from southern Turkey to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza, where a US-brokered ceasefire has been in place since October 2025 which Israel has violated many times.
The global outcry intensified after Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir published a video on X showing blindfolded and zip-tied activists forced to kneel on the ground at a port facility.
The footage also captured an incident where law enforcement officers force a female activist to the ground after she chants “Free, free Palestine”.
In the video, Ben-Gvir walks past the detainees holding an Israeli flag, saying, “They came as big heroes. Look at them now. See how they look now, not heroes and not anything”.
The footage drew immediate condemnation from within the Israeli coalition government itself. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Ben-Gvir of damaging foreign relations, stating, “You have undone tremendous, professional and successful efforts made by so many people – from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry staff and many others,” in a post on X. Many users noted in the replies that Saar was more concerned about the footage being published rather than the human rights violations themselves.
Israel’s Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu defended the naval blockade but criticized the minister’s conduct, stating it was “not in line with Israel’s values and norms,” and ordered the immediate deportation of the activists.
The international response involved formal diplomatic protests, with France, Canada, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands summoning Israeli ambassadors to demand explanations.
Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez announced plans to seek broader European sanctions against the Israeli minister. “The images of the Israeli minister Ben Gvir humiliating members of the international flotilla in support of Gaza are unacceptable. We will not tolerate anyone mistreating our citizens. In September, I announced the ban on access to national territory for this member of the Israeli government. Now we are going to push in Brussels for these sanctions to be elevated to the European scale on an urgent basis,” Sánchez stated.
Canadian PM Mark Carney confirmed diplomatic action over the incident. “The abominable treatment of civilians aboard the flotilla, including that which is documented in footage shared by Itamar Ben-Gvir, is unacceptable. Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has directed officials to summon the Israeli ambassador to demand assurances regarding the safety and security of Canadians involved,” Carney said.
New Zealand Foreign Minister (FM) Winston Peters highlighted existing sanctions against Ben-Gvir while demanding explanations. “New Zealand condemns the behaviour of Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Last year, New Zealand placed a travel ban on Minister Ben-Gvir for severely and deliberately undermining peace and security and removing prospects for a two state solution. His latest conduct with respect to the Gaza flotilla, which has been seriously criticised by his own Prime Minister, is further vindication of that position,” Peters stated.
French External Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressed disapproval of both the treatment of citizens and the flotilla itself.
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni called the conduct “inadmissible,” confirming that an Italian MP and a journalist were among the detainees and demanded an official apology. South Korean transition officials and state representatives questioned the legal framework of the operation, with President Lee Jae Myung asking, “What is the legal basis (for the arrests)? Is it Israeli territorial waters? Is that Israeli land? If there is conflict, can they seize and detain third-country vessels?” Lee described the actions as “way out of line”.
In the United Kingdom, Member of Parliament John McDonnell criticized his own government’s relationship with Israel. “There should be no surprise at the behaviour of Ben-Gvir. He, like Netanyahu & his regime, has long ago lost any sense of decency & humanity. What should shock us is our own government continues to sell arms to Israel, refuses to sanction the regime & hasn’t kicked out its ambassador,” McDonnell stated.
United States (US) Representative Brad Schneider called for the minister’s dismissal. “Ben Gvir is a national disgrace and a threat to Israel’s security and standing in the world,” Schneider posted.
Public commentators and media figures also reacted to the footage. British journalist Piers Morgan addressed Ben-Gvir directly, writing, “You’re a psychopath. No wonder Israel’s reputation is plunging around the world with people like you in its Govt”.
Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir noted the lack of internal accountability, stating, “A national security minister of @netanyahu cabinet humiliating Gaza flottila activists and breaking international law openly but Netanyahu only condemned his shameful behaviour. No action taken against him.”
British writer John Sweeney added, “I am deeply appalled by the conduct and rhetoric of Israeli Cabinet minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in relation to the Global Sumud Flotilla”.
Online public reactions focused heavily on the legality of the detention. One observer noted, “Outside of Israel, this isn’t a flex for Ben-Gvir. Personally abducting people in International waters and abusing them like he routinely does to Palestinians just shows us he’s a dangerous sociopath”.
Another commentator raised concerns regarding undisclosed detentions, writing, “This is how Israel abuses people in public on film. Imagine what they do to Palestinian prisoners in private.”
Demands for accountability and international intervention formed the bulk of public forums. One user wrote, “This is disgusting and inhumane. International governments need to engage immediately and deliver justice now”.
Another post criticized global inaction, stating, “It is too bad! Too wrong! Where is the world to stop this murdering! Torturing of Humans! People giving everything for humanity! helping, reminding us, what it means to be a human being, get totured, murdered! Stop! It is murdering the life of humanity on earth! Save them!”
Others called for direct retributive measures against Israeli citizens abroad, stating, “The radical fascist Ben Gvir will pay for his crimes one day,” and “REST OF THE WORLD MUST NOT LET ISRAELIS WALK FREE IN THEIR COUNTRIES. PUNISH THESE ISRTAELI DEMONS WHEN THEY ARE IDENFIED”.
