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Welcome to Israel’: Ben Gvir sparks global outrage after harassing Gaza flotilla activists on video

May 21, 2026

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On 20 May, several western countries summoned Israeli ambassadors and issued strong condemnations against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir after he released a video showing a humiliating “welcome party” for abducted activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla.

The activists are seen zip-tied, kneeling, and forced into grueling stress positions while Israel’s national anthem blares over them.

WATCH | Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir shamelessly threw a humiliating “welcome party” for detained Global Sumud Flotilla activists, who were abused, held in a grueling stress position, and forced to listen to Israel's national anthem. pic.twitter.com/zL4epSX9J8

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) May 20, 2026

Ben Gvir posted the degrading spectacle with the caption “Welcome to Israel,” telling security personnel in the video, “don’t be bothered by their screams” as a bound activist cried out in the background.

The security minister’s actions triggered outrage abroad and alarm inside Israel, where officials were concerned about further damage to the state’s already collapsing global image since it launched and continued its genocide in Gaza.

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

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rushed to contain the fallout from the video, accusing Itamar Ben Gvir of damaging Israel’s image with the abuse of the imprisoned flotilla activists.

“You deliberately caused damage to the state in this disgraceful performance, and not for the first time,” Saar said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar is desperately trying to repair the severe damage done to Israel's international image by claiming that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is not the face of Israel, following the release of a video showing Ben-Gvir abusing detained… pic.twitter.com/2750FpColw

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) May 20, 2026

Italy, France, and Canada officially summoned their respective Israeli ambassadors to demand explanations for the severe mistreatment of their citizens.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the video “unacceptable” and said Italy demanded “an apology for the treatment of these demonstrators and for the utter contempt shown toward the explicit requests of the Italian government.”

France summons Israeli ambassador over Ben Gvir’s treatment of Global Sumud flotilla activists
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France summoned Israel’s ambassador to express its “indignation” over the treatment of French citizens aboard the Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel… pic.twitter.com/50CP8Y8Ojx

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) May 20, 2026

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, “Whatever one may think of this flotilla, and we have repeatedly expressed our disapproval of this initiative, our citizens participating in it must be treated with respect and released as soon as possible.”

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called Israel’s detention of South Korean citizens in international waters “way out of line,” while Spain and Ireland condemned Ben Gvir’s conduct as “monstrous” and “appalling.”

Following both the internal and international responses, Ben Gvir defended his abuse of the activists, lashing out at government officials he accused of being too weak toward what he called “supporters of terrorism.”

Ben Gvir DOUBLES DOWN on attacking Global Sumood Flotilla activists:

“There are those in the government who still haven't figured out how to behave toward supporters of terrorism.”

“Israel has stopped being a pushover.”

Anyone who comes to our territory to support… pic.twitter.com/CQGnRm4ECN

— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws1) May 20, 2026

“Israel has stopped being a pushover,” he said, warning that anyone entering Israeli-controlled territory “will get slapped, and we won’t turn the other cheek.”

Israeli forces had raided and abducted the Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters on 18 May, seizing the remaining vessels the next day and taking them to Ashdod Port, with around 430 activists from over 40 countries being detained.

The mistreatment of the flotilla activists echoes Israel’s abuse of the previous mission, when two men were placed in extended solitary confinement inside Israeli torture centers and subjected to beatings and death threats.

Multiple reports and years of testimony have exposed sexual violence as a central pillar of Israel’s state-backed prison abuse, with prisoners subjected to sexual assault by dogs, sexual abuse with objects, beatings, and filmed humiliation as tools of punishment.

The same brutality has also been used against foreign nationals. Last year, three US journalists covering aid flotillas said they were abducted, beaten, threatened with rape, held in torture-like prison conditions, and abandoned by Washington to Israel’s impunity.