Israel Deports Gaza Flotilla Activists as Pressure Mounts Over Ben-Gvir Video

Israel says all foreign activists detained after attempting to reach Gaza by sea have now been deported, but international criticism over the treatment of those aboard the flotilla continues to intensify — including growing calls inside Europe for sanctions against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Israel’s foreign ministry announced Thursday that all foreign participants from the Global Sumud Flotilla had been removed from the country following their detention earlier this week.

The activists, numbering roughly 430 people from multiple countries, were intercepted by Israeli forces near Cyprus while attempting to sail toward Gaza in defiance of Israel’s long-standing naval blockade.

Israeli authorities described the flotilla as a publicity operation intended to breach what the government considers a lawful maritime restriction around Gaza. Officials have consistently argued that the blockade is necessary for national security and to prevent weapons from reaching militant groups operating inside the territory.

The diplomatic fallout, however, has centered less on the interception itself and more on footage later published online by Ben-Gvir.

In the video, the Israeli minister appears to mock detained activists while waving a large Israeli flag. Several detainees are shown kneeling with their hands restrained behind their backs as Ben-Gvir delivers nationalist remarks in Hebrew. The footage rapidly circulated internationally, triggering criticism from European governments and even from within Israel’s own leadership.

Antonio Tajani described the treatment of the activists as unacceptable and called for the European Union to consider sanctions against Ben-Gvir. Officials in Ireland and Spain have also reportedly pushed for coordinated EU measures targeting the minister over the incident.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the government’s decision to stop the flotilla, stating that Israel had the right to prevent what he described as provocations by individuals supportive of Hamas from entering Israeli-controlled waters near Gaza.

At the same time, Netanyahu distanced himself from Ben-Gvir’s conduct, saying the treatment shown in the footage did not reflect Israel’s values or accepted standards of behavior.

Criticism also emerged from inside Israel’s cabinet. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar publicly rebuked Ben-Gvir, accusing him of damaging the country’s image through what he called a disgraceful public performance. The dispute has further exposed divisions within Israel’s government over both rhetoric and international diplomacy during the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Ben-Gvir, one of the most hardline figures in Netanyahu’s coalition, has frequently drawn criticism abroad because of nationalist statements and confrontational policies related to Palestinians and security issues. Several countries have already debated or implemented measures limiting official engagement with him.

The flotilla itself was part of a broader campaign by pro-Palestinian activists seeking to challenge Israel’s blockade and draw international attention to humanitarian conditions inside Gaza. Organizers said the vessels were carrying aid supplies and intended to protest restrictions on access to the territory.

Israel has maintained varying forms of blockade and maritime control around Gaza for years, arguing that the measures are essential to prevent arms smuggling. Human rights organizations and some international legal experts continue to dispute aspects of the blockade’s legality and humanitarian impact.

The latest controversy arrives amid growing international scrutiny over conditions in Gaza following more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned of severe shortages of food, medicine and infrastructure across the territory.

For European governments already under domestic pressure over the conflict, the imagery from the detention video appears to have intensified political demands for a stronger response toward members of Israel’s government viewed as promoting inflammatory conduct.

And while diplomatic crises between allies are usually built around leaked documents or tense negotiations, this one escalated through a social media clip that many officials likely wish had remained permanently in someone’s draft folder.

Written by Thorben Thiede