Itamar Ben-Gvir Posts Video Taunting Bound Gaza Flotilla Activists at Ashdod Port

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sparked international condemnation after posting a video showing detained Gaza flotilla activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs and their foreheads on the ground at Ashdod port.

The BBC reported that the US, the UK, France, Italy and Canada expressed outrage after Ben-Gvir posted the video, and it said Israel dismissed the flotilla as a "PR stunt at the service of Hamas".

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The BBC said armed Israeli naval commandos began intercepting the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters west of Cyprus, about 250 nautical miles (460km) from the coast of Gaza, and that the organisers said Israeli commandos opened fire at six boats, used water cannon, and intentionally rammed one vessel.

In the video, Ben-Gvir told the activists "Welcome to Israel. We are the masters," while the Israeli national anthem played as activists were shown kneeling on the deck of a ship.

The BBC added that Israel's foreign ministry insisted it would "not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza" and said the activists were transferred to Israeli vessels and would be allowed to meet their consular representatives after arriving in Israel.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney called Israel's treatment of detained Gaza flotilla activists "abominable," and said he instructed officials to summon the Israeli ambassador to Ottawa after Ben-Gvir shared the taunting video.

In a conference call, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said, "This is a matter we take very, very seriously," and described it as "a matter of humane treatment of civilians" while adding that Canada was acting with "absolute urgency."

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The BBC reported that UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the video showed "totally disgraceful scenes" and that she sent a summons to the Israeli embassy to demand an "urgent explanation."

The BBC also quoted Netanyahu rebuking Ben-Gvir, saying the way the minister dealt with the flotilla activists was "not in line with Israel's values and norms" and adding that he had instructed Israeli authorities to "deport the provocateurs as soon as possible."

The Guardian said the video triggered a rapid response from countries including the UK, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, and it quoted US ambassador Mike Huckabee describing Ben-Gvir’s behaviour as "despicable".

Israel’s foreign ministry said all 430 activists had been transferred to Israeli vessels and were making their way to Israel, where they would be able to meet their consular representatives, while Adalah said the activists were being "taken into Israeli territory entirely against their will" and detained at Ashdod port.

The BBC said Adalah’s legal team would challenge the legality of these detentions and demand the immediate release of all flotilla participants, and it reported that on Wednesday Ben-Gvir visited a detention facility at Ashdod port where activists were being held.

The Guardian reported that three activists were taken to hospital as a result of Israeli violence and were subsequently discharged, and it said dozens of others had suspected broken ribs resulting in breathing problems.

The Guardian also quoted Adalah saying the group’s lawyers reported "systemic violations of due process, and widespread physical and psychological abuse by Israeli authorities," and it described the video as showing activists with foreheads to the ground and hands zip-tied behind their back.

In parallel, the BBC said the flotilla set out to highlight the tough conditions for Palestinians in war-torn Gaza, and it reported that the GSF organisers said all the boats had been intercepted by Tuesday evening with one managing to get within 80 nautical miles of the Palestinian territory.