There has been international condemnation of Israel's treatment of pro-Palestinian activists who were on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli naval forces.
The UK, France, Italy, Canada. the US were among the countries which expressed outrage afterfar-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a videoshowing himself taunting activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.
His actions also drew rare criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. who said they were "not in line with Israel's values".
A rights group representing the 430 people from more than 40 countries who took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla demanded their release.
The flotilla. which carried a token amount of aid, set out to highlight the tough conditions for Palestinians in war-torn Gaza. Israel dismissed it as a "PR stunt at the service of Hamas".
More than 50 boats taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) set sail from Turkey last Thursday.
On Monday morning. armed Israeli naval commandos began intercepting the fleet in international waters west of Cyprus, about 250 nautical miles (460km) from the coast of Gaza, which is under an Israeli maritime blockade.
The GSF's organisers said all the boats had been intercepted by Tuesday evening. with one managing to get within 80 nautical miles of the Palestinian territory.
They accused Israel of an "illegal, high-seas aggression". said Israeli commandos had opened fire at six boats, used water cannon, and intentionally rammed one vessel.
The Israeli foreign ministry said no live ammunition was used. insisted it would "not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza".
The ministry also said that all the activists had been transferred to Israeli vessels. that they would be allowed to meet their consular representatives after arriving in Israel.
On Wednesday morning, Israeli rights group Adalah said the activists were being "taken into Israeli territory entirely against their will". detained at Ashdod port.
"The legal team will challenge the legality of these detentions. demand the immediate release of all flotilla participants," it added.
In the afternoon. Ben-Gvir – an ultra-nationalist who, as national security minister, oversees Israel's police force – posted a video on social media, captioned "Welcome to Israel". It showed him visiting a detention facility at the port of Ashdod where the activists are being held.
He is seen encouraging security personnel as they push down a female activist who shouts "Free. Free, Palestine" as he walks past her.
Ben-Gvir is then shown waving a large Israeli flag next to dozens of activists kneeling on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs. He tells them in Hebrew: "Welcome to Israel. We are the masters."
Other activists are shown kneeling on the deck of a ship as the Israeli national anthem is played.
Italy, France, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium. Spain said Ben-Gvir's actions were "unacceptable" and that they had summoned their respective Israeli ambassadors.
"It is intolerable that these protesters. among whom there are many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment, which violates human dignity," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, adding that her country also demanded an apology.
France's Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, expressed the country's "indignation". demanded that French citizens "be treated with respect and be set free without delay".
His Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, told reporters that the video was "deeply troubling". "a matter we take very, very seriously".
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was "truly appalled" by the video.
"We are in touch with the families of a number of British nationals involved to provide them with consular support," she added.
"We have demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities. made clear their obligations to protect the rights of our citizens and all those involved."
Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said the video showed that "illegally detained participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla. including Irish citizens, are not in any way being treated with appropriate dignity or respect".
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, called Ben-Gvir's actions "despicable".
Adalah said the footage demonstrated that Israel was "employing a criminal policy of abuse and humiliation against activists".
In an unusual step, Israel's foreign minister joined the condemnation of his cabinet colleague.
Addressing him on X, Gideon Saar wrote: "You knowingly caused harm to our state in this disgraceful display -. not for the first time."
Ben-Gvir hit back swiftly, saying: "The foreign minister is expected to understand that Israel has stopped being a pushover."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then issued his own rebuke.
"Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters. reaching Gaza," a statement said. "However, the way that Minister Ben-Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel's values and norms."
The prime minister added that he had instructed Israeli authorities to "deport the provocateurs as soon as possible".
The GSF said the activists on board were carrying food, baby formula. medical aid for Palestinians in Gaza, where living conditions are dire and most of the 2.1 million population is displaced, despite the ceasefire agreed by Israel and Hamas last October.
The Israeli foreign ministry described Gaza as "flooded with aid", saying more than 1.5 million tonnes of aid. thousands of tonnes of medical supplies had entered the territory over the past seven months.
The UN said last week. many displaced families in Gaza were still forced to shelter in overcrowded tents or severely damaged structures due to the absence of safer alternatives.
Access to basic services remained limited, it added, with inconsistent clean water supplies. impaired waste management systems that could not meaningfully address public health concerns. Pests and rodents are also an issue.
The UN said humanitarian operations continued to be undermined by restrictions on the import of critical spare parts, back-up generators. other equipment, as well as shortages of essential inputs, including fuel and engine oil.
It noted. only 86% of the humanitarian supplies initially approved by Israeli authorities for entry into Gaza in April were ultimately offloaded at border crossings. The remaining supplies were returned to their points of origin.
The Gaza war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed. 251 others were taken hostage.
Israel responded by launching a military campaign in Gaza. during which more than 72,770 people have been killed, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
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