Get you up to speed: Israeli minister Ben Gvir under fire for ‘inhumane’ treatment of Gaza flotilla detainees | News World
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was recorded taunting detained activists in Ashdod, Israel, as they protested against the Gaza blockade. Activists, including a detained Irish woman identified as Caitriona Graham, faced aggressive treatment from Israeli forces, prompting statements from Amnesty International and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the situation.
Authorities have confirmed that over 400 participants, including 15 UK residents, are currently detained in a newly constructed detention centre near Ashdod, characterised by harsh conditions. The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, known as Adalah, is providing legal support to the detained activists and has called for their immediate release, citing previous instances of ill-treatment during such operations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the treatment of detained activists by Itamar Ben Gvir was “not in line with Israel’s values and norms,” and instructed for the activists to be deported “as soon as possible.” In response, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Adalah, called for urgent international measures to protect the activists and demanded their immediate release from detention, citing a continued pattern of abuse by Israeli authorities.
What remains unclear — The number of detained activists currently held by Israeli authorities has not been specified.
Itamar Ben Gvir faces backlash over treatment of Gaza flotilla detainees
Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir can be seen smirking, taunting and telling detained activists they should be imprisoned for a very long time.
One handcuffed Irish woman named by activists as Caitriona Graham shouts ‘Free Palestine’ at Ben Gvir but is taken down quickly with her head forced to the floor as the minister is ushered away smiling.
‘The courage of Catriona Graham in the face of Israeli outrages, puts our leadership to shame’, Stephen Bowen, Executive Director, Amnesty International Ireland said.
She posted on X: ‘Utterly appalling and unacceptable behaviour by Minister Gvir and the Israeli government.
‘Our Embassy has formally raised this matter with the Israeli authorities and has demanded proper and humane treatment of Irish citizens. These actions cannot be allowed to continue.’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said although Israel has every right to stop ‘provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters,’ the way that Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists ‘is not in line with Israel’s values and norms.’
Armed guards patrol the barbed wire perimeter, guarding the activists trying to bring supplies to Gaza.
Detainees are lined up and cramped together on deck (Picture: Katie Thompson)
‘I say to Prime Minister Netanyahu, give them to me for a long, long time, give them to us for the terrorist prisons, that’s what it should look like,’ Ben Gvir said.
Netanyahu said that he has given instructions that the activists be deported ‘as soon as possible.’
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir reacts as flotilla activists are detained by Israeli forces, in Ashdod Port (Picture: via REUTERS)
Gvir drew the ire of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who publicly chastised his fellow minister on X, posting that ‘you knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display’ and that he had ‘undone tremendous, professional and successful efforts made by so many people.’
‘No, you are not the face of Israel,’ Sa’ar wrote.
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Ben Gvir shot back at Sa’ar in the Israeli parliament, accusing him of ‘bowing to the terrorists’ which he called ‘a disgrace and a shame.’ He said that any Israeli apology to the activists would send a message of ‘weakness,’ ‘submission’ and ‘surrender.’
‘Is he worried about the images? I am worried about the security of the residents of the state of Israel, and I care about them,’ Gvir said.
Ben Trowell from UK Global Sumud speaks of his experience on the flotilla
The situation in Palestine is beyond desperate.
So, myself and over 700 comrades from around the world, took it upon ourselves to deliver essential and life-saving aid to the people of Gaza in April this year.
In 2025, the largest civilian-led effort – known as the Global Sumud Flotilla – deployed dozens of vessels, but all were intercepted by the Israeli army, with hundreds of activists detained and deported.
So last month, we set out on another peaceful mission to again deliver essential aid.
The Israeli army thwarted our plans by initially intercepting 22 of our boats – I was on one of them – and have now done the same to the rest of our fleet, detaining the rest of our comrades.
While I was detained, I was beaten, psychologically tortured and had the majority of my clothes stolen.
Now, Israeli soldiers have kidnapped more than 400 participants.
There are currently 15 residents of the UK being held hostage and I am very concerned for their safety.
In my experience, we were held in a newly constructed detention centre, made up of a few shipping containers and a lot of razor wire. There were floodlights and strobe lights on us around the clock and the army pointing guns on us from the elevated platforms.
There was not enough space inside the containers for all of us to sleep and, while some were sleeping outside, Israel security services flooded the floor, leaving us soaking and freezing all night.
Whilst this was a horrific experience for all of us, it is absolutely nothing in comparison with what Palestinians have been forced to endure for more than eight decades – and that is why we do what we do.
Our Government in the UK should be doing everything in their power to get our citizens back safely.
We have even witnessed, live-streamed, shooting towards those on the boats and still our government has done nothing.
When our Government fails, it is down to us, the people, to act.
An Israel-based legal advocacy group, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, or Adalah, accused Israeli authorities of ‘employing a criminal policy of abuse and humiliation against activists.’
Adalah said in a statement that this followed similar patterns of ill-treatment by Israeli authorities against activists in previous flotilla missions ‘for which Israel faced zero accountability.’
The group said that its lawyers and other volunteers were providing legal advice to activists at Ashdod and were demanding their immediate release.
‘The international community must take urgent measures to protect the flotilla members against this brutal and illegal conduct by Israeli officials,’ the group said.
Flotilla organisers have said the activists from more than 40 different countries were ‘being subjected to violent abuse after being illegally abducted at sea’ while attempting to bypass the Gaza blockade. In a post on Telegram, they urged the international community to end the blockade and release all 9,500 Palestinians ‘held in Israeli torture dungeons.’
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