Viral video by far-right minister Ben-Gvir shows bound pro-Palestinian flotilla members, drawing global and internal backlash.
Israel is facing fierce international criticism after security forces intercepted a Gaza aid flotilla in international waters and forced hundreds of bound pro‑Palestinian activists to sit and kneel on a port floor, in scenes broadcast online by National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir.
Flotilla Intercepted In International Waters
Israeli forces intercepted a humanitarian flotilla in international waters on Tuesday, May 20, before towing the vessels to an Israeli port and detaining all participants. Organisers said about 430 activists from 40 countries – including Italians and South Koreans – had sailed from southern Türkiye in an attempt to challenge the Gaza naval blockade and deliver aid to the besieged enclave.
Viral Video Of Bound, Kneeling Activists
Footage posted on X on May 21 showed rows of activists sitting in lines on the dock with their hands tied behind their backs using cable ties, some forced to kneel on the ground under the watch of armed security personnel and, according to witnesses, treated “like animals.” In a separate clip, a female activist shouting “Free, free Palestine” is seen being thrown to the ground.
Ben-Gvir’s Taunts And International Outrage
The videos were uploaded by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir himself, who mocked the detainees: “They came as great heroes. Look at them now. No longer heroes and nothing at all,” he said, waving a large Israeli flag. The posts triggered a wave of condemnation from rights groups and diplomats, who denounced the treatment of non‑violent activists and questioned the legality of the interception.
Internal Israeli Criticism And Government Distancing
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar publicly rebuked Ben-Gvir, saying he had “destroyed the great, professional, successful efforts” of the IDF, Foreign Ministry staff and others on the diplomatic front. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s right to enforce the Gaza naval blockade but said the images “do not reflect Israel’s values and norms,” adding that activists were to be deported and insisting they would receive consular access.
Detention In Ashdod And Legal Support
Israeli human-rights organisations reported that the activists are being held in the port of Ashdod and are receiving legal assistance. Israel maintains that its maritime blockade of Gaza is legal under international law, while critics argue that intercepting an aid flotilla in international waters and publicly humiliating detainees breaches human-rights norms and further erodes Israel’s standing amid the wider Gaza war.
The Ashdod dock scenes of bound, kneeling activists – amplified by a senior minister’s taunts and criticised even within Israel’s own cabinet – have turned a single flotilla interception into a broader indictment of the country’s conduct and messaging. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the episode reinforces how tactics used to enforce the Gaza blockade carry not just legal stakes, but also profound humanitarian and diplomatic consequences as publics worldwide scrutinise every image.
Sources: Batampos (2026) , iNews (2026)
Keywords: Aid Flotilla Interception, Activists Forced To Kneel, Ashdod Detention, Gideon Saar Criticism, Netanyahu Response
