Itamar Ben-Gvir's Gaza Flotilla Video Stunt Sparks Backlash From Netanyahu, Giorgia Meloni, Mark Carney

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rebuked National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after videos posted online showed the far-right minister mocking detained pro-Palestinian flotilla activists intercepted by Israeli forces near Gaza.

The footage, shared by Ben-Gvir himself, showed him walking among detained activists at what appeared to be a makeshift detention area at Ashdod port and aboard one of the intercepted vessels. Waving a large Israeli flag, Ben-Gvir told activists: “Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords.”

One clip showed a handcuffed activist shouting “Free Palestine” before security personnel immediately forced the person to the ground. Other scenes showed activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs and their heads lowered.

In another video, Ben-Gvir mocked the activists, saying they had “came here all full of pride like big heroes. Look at them now,” while urging Netanyahu to authorize their imprisonment for a “long, long time.”

Netanyahu defended Israel’s interception of the Gaza-bound flotilla but distanced himself from Ben-Gvir’s conduct.

“Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza,” Netanyahu said in a statement Wednesday. “However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel’s values and norms.”

The backlash quickly spread across Israel’s political establishment. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Ben-Gvir of damaging Israel’s international standing, writing on X: “You deliberately caused damage to the state in this disgraceful performance, and not for the first time. … No you are not the face of Israel.”

Ben-Gvir fired back, saying Saar should “understand that Israel has stopped being a pushover. Anyone who comes to our territory to support terrorism … will get slapped.”

Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, also criticized the minister, calling the videos “reckless grandstanding” that undermined Israeli diplomacy. “Ben Gvir’s antics take a sledgehammer to our diplomatic efforts while Israel’s enemies gleefully jump on every unfortunate nonsense to discredit and demonize,” Leiter wrote.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee similarly condemned the stunt, saying: “Flotilla was stupid stunt, but Ben Gvir betrayed dignity of his nation.”

International criticism mounted as European leaders summoned Israeli ambassadors over the incident. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the videos as “unacceptable” and announced that Italy had summoned Israel’s ambassador in Rome, demanding “an apology for the treatment reserved to these demonstrators.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said France had also summoned the Israeli ambassador, insisting the activists “must be treated with respect and released as quickly as possible.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called Ben-Gvir’s behavior “unacceptable” and announced on X, “Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has directed officials to summon the Israeli ambassador to demand assurances regarding the safety and security of Canadians involved. Canada has already imposed strict sanctions on Mr. Ben-Gvir, including asset freezes and a travel ban, in response to his repeated incitement of violence. The protection of civilians and respect for human dignity must be upheld everywhere, at all times.”

The flotilla, organized by the Sumud Global Flotilla coalition, was attempting to challenge Israel’s longstanding blockade of Gaza and draw attention to humanitarian conditions in the enclave. Israeli authorities intercepted the final vessels Tuesday after earlier stopping several boats roughly 167 miles from Gaza’s coastline.

Flotilla organizers accused Israeli forces of firing on some vessels during the interdictions, though Israel denied using live ammunition. Israel’s foreign ministry said only “nonlethal means” were used and insisted the flotilla was “a PR stunt at the service of Hamas.”

Meanwhile, the Israel-based legal group Adalah accused Israeli authorities of carrying out “a criminal policy of abuse and humiliation against activists” and called for the detainees’ immediate release.