Ben-Gvir's video of European activists exhibits his policy of ill-treating Palestinian prisoners

Activists from the Sumud Flotilla detained by Israeli forces at the port of Ashdod, in a video posted on the X account of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, on May 20, 2026. ITAMAR BEN GVIR/X Since October 7, 2023, a certain type of footage has become common on Israeli social media platforms and television channels: Palestinian prisoners are filmed by cameras while they are being abused or humiliated in the presence of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Generally, such videos spark little reaction. On Wednesday, May 20, the far-right minister repeated the practice with a group of European activists, who had come from a flotilla that the Israeli military intercepted in the Mediterranean as it sailed toward Gaza. This time, the footage provoked a global outcry . In the video, dozens of activists are shown on their knees, with their heads to the ground and hands bound. One woman activist is roughly pushed to the ground. In the footage, which Ben-Gvir also published on his own Telegram channel, he says, "Welcome to Israel, we are at home here," as the Israeli national anthem plays in the background. After the flotilla's boats were boarded, the activists were arrested and taken to the port of Ashdod. You have 84.27% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.