Jerusalem, Israel. Israeli police on Wednesday forced detained activists from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla to kneel with their hands tied behind their backs, as a minister looked on, prompting criticism from foreign leaders and within Israel’s government.
Flotilla interception and detention
The activists were aboard a flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters on Tuesday and later taken to an Israeli port. The flotilla had set sail from southern Turkey in an attempt to deliver aid to Gaza after earlier missions were also intercepted by Israel in international waters.
Aid effort and blockade dispute
Organisers said they aimed to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance, which aid bodies said remained in short supply despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in place since October 2025 that includes guarantees of increased aid. Israel said its naval blockade on Gaza is lawful.
Video posted by police minister and reaction
Organisers said the detained group numbered 430 people, including citizens of Italy and South Korea. Israel’s far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on X showing officers forcing a detained activist to the ground after she chanted “Free, free Palestine.”
The video showed dozens of detained activists kneeling in rows with their hands zip-tied behind their backs at what appeared to be an outdoor Israeli port facility, with soldiers armed with long guns patrolling in the background from aboard a military vessel. “They came as big heroes,” Ben-Gvir said in the video as he walked by the activists carrying a large Israeli flag. “Look at them now. See how they look now, not heroes and not anything.”
Ben-Gvir’s stance drew criticism from within Israel’s coalition government, with foreign minister Gideon Saar retweeting the video and accusing Ben-Gvir of harming Israel.
What do you make of the criticism directed at the detention video posted by Itamar Ben-Gvir?