Israel Deports Gaza Flotilla Activists After Ben-Gvir Abuse Video Sparks Outcry

Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters and detained the activists, then released them and deported them from Israel on Thursday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

The activists were sent home after being pinned to the ground and taunted under Itamar Ben-Gvir’s direction, and CBC reported that Ben-Gvir and Minister of Transport Miri Regev posted campaign-style videos of themselves visiting the port.

Al Jazeera

CBC said Adalah estimated 430 activists had been released from prison in southern Israel, while The New Arab reported that Adalah said most of the approximately 430 participants would be transferred to Ramon Airport in Be'er Ora in southern Israel before being deported later in the day.

The New Arab said Turkey confirmed it was sending charter flights to repatriate flotilla activists after around 50 vessels departed from the country last week before being intercepted by Israeli forces off the coast of Cyprus.

In Istanbul, activists described abuse and torture by Israeli authorities, and The Globe and Mail said the activists descended the stairs to the runaway flashing two-fingered salutes and chanting 'Free Palestine.'

Multiple outlets described abuse allegations tied to footage of detainees at Ashdod port, where activists were seen kneeling with their hands zip-tied behind their backs while Israel’s national anthem played.

Al Jazeera reported that Ben-Gvir posted a video of himself taunting foreign activists abducted from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla at a makeshift holding pen in Ashdod, with activists cable-tied and kneeling as the video was released on Wednesday.

Al Jazeera

The Guardian quoted Adalah saying, "The team reports systemic violations of due process, and widespread physical and psychological abuse by Israeli authorities," and said three activists were taken to hospital and later discharged.

El País reported that the first members of the flotilla who were released described beatings and fractures, and it quoted journalist Alessandro Mantovani of Il Fatto Quotidiano saying, "We could hear the screams from outside."

CBC said Miriam Azem, Adalah's communications director, described an activist being forced to strip naked and run while guards were laughing, while the Israel Prisons Service dismissed Adalah's allegations as false and designed to portray systematic unlawful conduct.

The detention and deportation triggered diplomatic action, with CBC saying France, Canada, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands summoned top Israeli diplomats over the treatment of Canadian citizens and other activists.

CBC reported Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Israel's ambassador has been summoned after first announcing the move on Wednesday, and it quoted Anand: "I can confirm that all Canadians who were on board are safe and are in the process of being transferred to Türkiye."

The Globe and Mail said outrage abroad over the activists' treatment prompted several countries to summon Israeli envoys to hear their concerns, and it described the activists chanting 'Free Palestine' as they landed in Istanbul.

The New Arab said Adalah warned that "the entire operation, from the unlawful interception in international waters to the systemic torture, humiliation, and arbitrary detention of peaceful activists" constitutes a flagrant violation of international law.

El País added that some activists were hospitalized upon arrival in Istanbul and that dozens had fractures in their arms, legs, and ribs, while it said at least three were hospitalized in Israel itself and later discharged, underscoring the medical consequences described by lawyers.