Israel’s treatment of captured Gaza flotilla activists sparks global outcry: ‘Monstrous, undignified and inhumane’

A growing number of countries have condemned Israel’s treatment of activists seized by its military from a Gaza-bound flotilla, after a minister shared footage of them kneeling with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground.

After world leaders said that they were “appalled” by such treatment of civilians, even some Israeli officials launched an attack on the minister.

National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on X showing the captured activists on the deck of a military boat and one of them being pulled to the ground by her hair.

It also showed the minister waving the Israeli flag while the national anthem played in the background.

"That's how we welcome the terrorism supporters,” the minister wrote. “Welcome to Israel.”

Israeli forces intercepted the aid flotilla and seized the activists on board in international waters and took them to the southern port of Ashdod.

In a statement, the flotilla’s organisers said the activists were being taken to the Ketziot prison in the Negev desert.

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The treatment of the activists drew swift domestic condemnation and international uproar. European commissioner, Hadja Lahbib, said “no one should be punished for defending humanity".

European Council president, Antonio Costa, said he was “appalled by the treatment of flotilla members by Israeli minister Ben-Gvir”.

“This behaviour is completely ‌unacceptable,” he added. “We call for ​their immediate ‌release.”

The European Commission found the ill-treatment of the Gaza flotilla activists “completely unacceptable”, a spokesperson, Anouar El Anouni, said on Wednesday.

“Every detained person must be treated with safety, dignity and according to international law. We call on the Israeli government to ensure the protection and dignified treatment of these activists, including several EU citizens,” he added.

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Spain's foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, described the Israeli treatment of the flotilla activists as “monstrous, undignified and inhumane”.

“I demand a public apology from Israel,” he said.

British foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said she was "truly appalled" by Mr Ben-Gvir's video. "It violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity in the way people should be treated,” she said.

"We have demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities and made clear their obligations to protect the rights of our citizens and all those involved.”

Irish foreign minister Helen McEntee said she was "appalled and shocked" by the incident and demanded the immediate release of the activists, who include the sister of Ireland’s president Catherine Connolly.

“Ireland’s ambassador to Israel has demanded immediate assurances that the welfare and wellbeing of all Irish citizens is safeguarded and they are afforded all the protections that they are entitled to under international law. I have also demanded their immediate release,” Ms McEntee said.

US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, called Mr Ben-Gvir’s actions “despicable”.

"Flotilla was stupid stunt, but Ben-Gvir betrayed dignity of his nation," he wrote on X.

Belgium and France summoned Israeli ambassadors, with Paris calling the ill-treatment of the activists “unacceptable”.

Several other nations, including Italy, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Turkey also condemned Israel’s ill-treatment of the activists, with Canadian premier Mark Carney calling it “abominable”.

Mr Ben-Gvir also drew ire domestically, with foreign minister Gideon Saar saying his cabinet colleague had “knowingly caused harm to our state in this disgraceful display”.

Mr Ben-Gvir hit back. "I am proud to be the minister in charge of the organisations that operated today against those supporters of terror," he said.

“Yes, there will be all sorts of pictures that Gideon Saar does not like, but I think they are a great source of pride," the minister told parliament.

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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country had the right to stop "provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters” and claimed his minister’s conduct was “not in line with Israel’s values and norms”.

He said Israeli authorities would deport the seized activists at the earliest.

Mr Netanyahu had earlier criticised the flotilla, which was trying to deliver aid to Gaza, as “a malicious scheme designed to break the blockade we have imposed on Hamas terrorists”.

Last month, the Israeli military intercepted another flotilla bound for Gaza in international waters and deported the activists on board to Europe.

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