Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir released a video showing detained participants of the intercepted Gaza-bound flotilla being bound and dragged in Israel’s Ashdod Port, writing, “That’s how we welcome the terror supporters. Welcome to Israel.”
Flotilla activists who were intercepted by Israeli forces off Cyprus on Monday, are nationals of several countries, among them from Turkey, Germany.Italy, France as well as 19 people from Greece.
the Freedom Flotilla activists are foreign nationals from:
🇺🇸U.S.A
🇪🇸Spain
🇮🇹Italy
🇹🇷Turkey
🇫🇷France
🇩🇪Germany
🇧🇪Belgium
🇦🇺Australia
🇨🇦Canada
🇬🇧United Kingdom
🇬🇷Greece
🇦🇱Albania
🇵🇹Portugal.
And others.
Ben-Gvir’s post triggered an outrage not only among supporters of the Flotilla but also with the strong reactions by Italy and France who summoned the Israeli ambassadors in their countries to officially protest.
Even PM Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Ben-Gvir:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza.However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with…
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 20, 2026
Despicable behavior
ככה אנחנו מקבלים את תומכי הטרור
Welcome to Israel 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/7Hf8cAg7fC
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 20, 2026
Welcome to Israel”: Video of Torture of Flotilla Activists by Far-Right Minister Ben-Gvir who makes a show of Human Lives
In a video posted on social media, the activists – including 19 Greek citizens – appear to be tied up behind their backs, with their heads turned down, while Israel’s Defense Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, appears to inspect” them, shouting at them.
The video begins with a female activist shouting “Freedom for Palestine,” before Israeli soldiers push her in the head and drag her to the ground.
With dozens of activists tied up and kneeling, Ben Gvir is seen raising a large Israeli flag and shouting in Hebrew: “Welcome to Israel, we are in charge here.” The minister also addresses Benjamin Netanyahu, saying: “I say to the Prime Minister – give them to us for a long time, let’s put them in terrorist prisons.”
In another shot, the activists are again seen tied up and kneeling on the deck of a ship, while the Israeli national anthem is played. In other shots, the far-right minister argues with a man and comments “this is how it should be done” when another man is seen tied up.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir released a video showing detained participants of the intercepted Gaza-bound flotilla being bound and dragged in Israel's Ashdod Port, writing, "That's how we welcome the terror supporters. Welcome to Israel."
Read more here:… pic.twitter.com/Uuc9AXONsi
— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) May 20, 2026
ככה אנחנו מקבלים את תומכי הטרור
Welcome to Israel 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/7Hf8cAg7fC
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 20, 2026
Reactions by Italian PM Meloni,French FM Barrot, Greek FM
Meloni, Barrot and Tajiani condemn the Israeli actions as “unacceptable.”
Le immagini del ministro israeliano Ben Gvir sono inaccettabili. È inammissibile che questi manifestanti, fra cui molti cittadini italiani, vengano sottoposti a questo trattamento lesivo della dignità della persona.
Il Governo italiano sta immediatamente compiendo, ai più alti…— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) May 20, 2026
Les agissements de M. Ben Gvir à l'égard des passagers de la flottille Global Smud, dénoncés par ses propres collègues au gouvernement israélien, sont inadmissibles. J'ai demandé que l'ambassadeur d'Israël en France soit convoqué pour exprimer notre indignation et obtenir des…
— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) May 20, 2026
In the same wave length, the Greek Foreign Ministry submitted a demarche to Israel, condemning “Gvir’s behavior as unacceptable” and demanding the immediate release of Greek citizens.”
Greek FM announcement
The Greek Foreign Ministry condemned the behavior of the Israeli Minister of National Security as “unacceptable and absolutely condemnable”, following the publication of a video with shocking images of the treatment of those arrested on the “Global Sumud Flotilla”, which was heading to Gaza.
By order of Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, a demarche was held to protest against the Israeli authorities.
“We demand full respect for international humanitarian law and human rights and call on the Israeli authorities to proceed with the rapid completion of all procedures and the immediate release of the Greek citizens,” the Foreign Ministry statement said.
The Greek government underlines the need to respect international rules and protect the safety of citizens participating in peaceful humanitarian missions.
Expel all the Israeli ambassador and all embassy staff and ban them from ever re=entering the country
this is the country that greece does business with , how dare you
Mr Netanyahu says Israel has every right to prevemnt provocative people entering Israeli waters. That is a 2 edged sword. The provocative Israeli PIRATES operating in the Eastern Mediterranean and KIDNAPPING peaceful sailorw who have not even entered Israeli waters hould them selves be arrested by Greek, cypriot and other EU forces taken to a black site, humiliated and thewn imprisoned and charged with war crimes! Of course they wont be because vertsin european countries are trying to likc Israels boots clewaner than Donald Trump. SHAME on EUrope
And it’s time to stop the diplomatic polite language. This is not only ‘unacceptable’, it is despicably abhorrent behavior to anyone living in a civilised society. I totally agree that this should be condemned in a much stronger way but Netanyahu and his followers are allowed to do whatever they wish without consequences and even the support of the USA. Why are world leaders allowing this, and much, much worse to continue? The world is not heading in the right direction here.
And my comment was censored! Even the independent press are afraid…
with your stiff mindset you keep writing the same stuff again & again. That’s boring…, pal, very boring.
Interesting idea. Donald Duck and vlad the impaler should try claiming they are censoring the opposition because they are boring, not because they have contrary opinions
censoring opposition? Jeeee LOL
Several points here, 1, I do not keep repeating the same ideas. 2, There are some things that are so important that they bear, even require, repetition. 3, I am sorry that you find profound criticism of Israel to be so boring.
LOL – my site, my castle, my rules
KTG
Well said .
Thank you
words will never be enough only action shows who you are , makes me sick how you bow to the Israelis
I agree 100 per cent.