Israeli minister posts video of detained flotilla activists forced to kneel

Updated 10pm

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted a video on Wednesday showing detained activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs and foreheads on the ground.

The footage, published on Ben Gvir's X account and captioned "Welcome to Israel", shows dozens of activists on the deck of a military boat with the Israeli national anthem blaring, and in detention in Israel, where the minister is seen waving an Israeli flag.

The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Turkey last week in the latest attempt by activists to breach Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory, after Israeli forces intercepted a previous convoy last month.

In the video he shared, he is seen encouraging staff at the detention centre as they push down an activist who had stood up to say "free free Palestine" as he walked by.

Israel's Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Saar condemned Ben Gvir after the release of the video.

"You knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display - and not for the first time", Saar said on X, adding Ben Gvir was "not the face of Israel".

"Israel is employing a criminal policy of abuse and humiliation against activists seeking to confront Israel's ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people", legal rights centre Adalah said in a statement reacting to the footage.

Adalah's lawyers went to the detention centre in southern Israel to meet the more than 430 detained activists, it said.

Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which controls under half of Gaza and whose attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, sparked the war in the Palestinian territory, also condemned the video.

In a statement, it called Ben Gvir's actions "an expression of the moral depravity and sadism that govern the mentality of the leaders of the criminal enemy entity" (Israel).

France summons Israeli envoy over 'unacceptable' handling of activists

France has summoned the Israeli ambassador over the "unacceptable actions" of Gvir.

"I have requested that the Israeli ambassador to France be summoned to express our indignation and obtain an explanation," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on X.

Spain slams Israel's 'monstrous' treatment of activists

Spain's top diplomat, meanwhile, condemned the "monstrous" Israeli treatment of the activists.

"That treatment is monstrous, disgraceful and inhumane," Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said in Berlin in a recording shared with the media, adding that Israel's charge d'affaires in Madrid had been summoned in protest.

Irish foreign minister 'appalled' by video

Irish foreign minister Helen McEntee also said she was "appalled and shocked" by the video.

McEntee demanded the immediate release of the "illegally detained" activists after Israel's security minister posted a video showing dozens kneeling with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground. Among the detainees is the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly.

UK foreign minister 'truly appalled'

British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper meanwhile said she was "truly appalled" by the video.

Cooper said the footage "violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity in the way people should be treated," adding that London has "demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities".