Israeli minister Ben-Gvir posts video of detainees, threatens long prison terms
430 activists kneel, hands tied, as minister waves flag and taunts them.
On Wednesday, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted two videos on social media, showing him walking among approximately 430 detainees from a flotilla that attempted to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. The activists had been brought to Ashdod port aboard navy ships. In the first video, detainees are seen kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs, their heads touching the floor in what appears to be a makeshift detention area on the dock and ship deck. Ben-Gvir waves a large Israeli flag and tells them, 'Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords.' When one handcuffed activist shouts 'Free Palestine,' security personnel immediately push him to the ground.
In a second video, Ben-Gvir dismisses the activists as having arrived 'full of pride like big heroes' and appeals to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to grant him permission to imprison them 'for a very long time.' Netanyahu responded sharply, stating that while Israel has every right to stop 'provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters,' the minister's handling of the situation 'is not in line with Israel’s values and norms.' The incident drew criticism from politicians in Israel and internationally, who condemned the treatment of the detainees as unacceptable.
- Itamar Ben-Gvir posted videos of 430 detainees kneeling handcuffed with heads to the floor.
- He waved an Israeli flag, declared 'We are the landlords,' and called for their imprisonment.
- PM Netanyahu rebuked his actions as 'not in line with Israel’s values,' prompting global backlash.
Why It Matters
The incident highlights escalating tensions over Gaza blockade tactics and raises human rights concerns.