Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir dehumanizes Global Sumud Flotilla activists, parading them in detention while saying they should remain imprisoned for a “long, long time.”
The activists were detained after attempting to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza and arrived Wednesday at the port of Ashdod aboard Israeli naval vessels.
Footage released by Ben-Gvir showed him walking among groups of the nearly 430 detained activists alongside police officers and soldiers while carrying a large Israeli flag. In the video, he tells the detainees, “Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords.” One activist, seen handcuffed and shouting “Free Palestine” as Ben-Gvir passed by, was immediately forced to the ground by security personnel.
Additional footage appeared to show activists kneeling with their hands restrained behind their backs and their heads lowered to the floor inside what looked like a temporary detention area at Ashdod port and aboard a ship.
In another video, Ben-Gvir said the activists “came here all full of pride like big heroes. Look at them now,” while calling on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to authorize their imprisonment.
“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.
The Israel-based legal rights organization Adalah accused Israeli authorities of carrying out “a criminal policy of abuse and humiliation against activists.”
In a statement, Adalah said the treatment reflected previous incidents involving flotilla activists, claiming Israeli authorities had faced “zero accountability” over similar allegations in the past. The group added that its lawyers and volunteers were present in Ashdod to provide legal assistance and demand the activists’ immediate release.
“The international community must take urgent measures to protect the flotilla members against this brutal and illegal conduct by Israeli officials,” the organization stated.
Several European Countries have condemned Ben-Gvir’s actions and called it an attack on freedom. They Also have Called to Release their Citizens Immediately and to respect the international laws.
President of Columbia Gustavo Petro said “The state’s Minister Ben Gvir behaves like a true Nazi. This is how he treated our fellow citizens just because they wanted to stop the genocide in Gaza.” about this matter.
Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reportedly spoke overnight with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, urging the swift release of Italian citizens detained during the operation, including a member of parliament and a journalist, while stressing the need to protect their safety and legal rights.
