National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir caused a severe international diplomatic crisis and internal conflict within the Israeli government on Wednesday when he visited a facility at the Ashdod Port holding detained Gaza flotilla activists.
Minister Ben-Gvir toured the facility, accompanied by Israel Prison Service prison guards, police officers, and IDF soldiers, to oversee the reception and interrogation of the pro-Palestinian activists who were taken off the ships.
During the tour, one of the activists shouted at Ben-Gvir, "Free Palestine," before being whisked away by the prison guards.
At the same time, the security forces played the Israeli National Anthem "Hatikva" on speakers in the facility.
Minister Ben-Gvir chose to film the visit, directly addressed the detainees while waving an Israeli flag, and then said to the camera: "The summer camp is over, whoever acts against the State of Israel will find a determined country, Am Israel Chai."
The footage, which quickly spread around the world, led to a diplomatic crisis and infuriated the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.
In response to the incident, the French, Italian, Canadian, and Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs summoned the Israeli ambassadors to the countries to request formal clarifications on the event.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reacted especially strongly to the events and demanded immediate clarifications from Jerusalem: "The images of the Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir are unacceptable. It is inadmissible that these demonstrators, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates human dignity."
"The Italian Government is immediately taking, at the highest institutional levels, all necessary steps to secure the immediate release of the Italian citizens involved. Italy further demands an apology for the treatment reserved for these demonstrators and for the total contempt shown toward the explicit requests of the Italian Government," she added.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated: "The actions of Mr. Ben Gvir toward the passengers of the Global Sumud flotilla, denounced by his own colleagues in the Israeli government, are unacceptable. I have requested that the Israeli ambassador to France be summoned to express our indignation and obtain explanations."
"The safety of our compatriots is a constant priority. Whatever one thinks of this flotilla, and we have indicated on several occasions our disapproval of this initiative, our compatriots who are participating in it must be treated with respect and released as quickly as possible. I salute the work of the teams from the Ministry, the Embassy, and the Consulate who, once again, are mobilizing to ensure their consular protection," he added.
Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Berendsen condemned: "The images shared by extremist Minister Ben-Gvir of detained Flotilla activists are shocking and unacceptable. This treatment of detainees violates basic human dignity. I raised this directly with my Israeli colleague Gideon Sa'ar and will summon the Israeli ambassador."
He noted that it is "important that both PM Netanyahu & FM Sa’ar have clearly distanced themselves from this conduct. I reiterated that Israel must treat all passengers in line with international law and guarantee the safety of Dutch citizens."
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that she is "truly appalled at the video posted by Israeli Cabinet Minister Ben-Gvir taunting those involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla."
According to her, "This violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity in the way people should be treated."
Cooper stated that "we are in touch with the families of a number of British nationals involved to provide them with consular support. We have demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities and made clear their obligations to protect the rights of our citizens and all those involved."
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also strongly criticized the move: "Universal outrage & condemnation from every high-ranking Israeli official, from Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli Foreign Minister Gidon Sa'ar, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and Ambassador Yechiel Leiter for despicable actions by Ben Gvir. Flotilla was a stupid stunt, but Ben Gvir betrayed the dignity of his nation."
In the meantime, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar launched a rare intra-government attack on his peer, Ben-Gvir, accusing him of directly harming Israel's national interests.
"You knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display - and not for the first time," Sa'ar wrote in response to the incident. "You have undone tremendous, professional, and successful efforts made by so many people - from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry staff and many others."
He concluded: "No, you are not the face of Israel."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commented on the incident, criticizing his Minister's actions: "Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza. However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel’s values and norms. I have instructed the relevant authorities to deport the provocateurs as soon as possible."
The Foreign Minister’s frustration came after days in which officials from the Foreign Ministry and the IDF worked around the clock to manage the public diplomacy and media campaign surrounding the takeover of the Turkish flotilla.
Officials in the diplomatic establishment said that international criticism over the takeover itself had been expected and was being managed, but that the official footage released by Itamar Ben-Gvir from the detention facility completely changed the situation and triggered harsh reactions from Europe.
Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter voiced rare criticism of the minister: "As Israeli PM Netanyahu and FM Gideon Sa'ar have made clear, Itamar Ben Gvir’s reckless grandstanding is not representative of government policy," he stated.
Leiter explained, "I am Israel’s top diplomat in the US, at the heart of our most important alliance. 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."
"The provocateurs of the Flotilla charade were properly detained in accordance with international law and will be deported to their home countries. End of story," he concluded.
Gadi Eisenkot joined the criticism against Minister Ben-Gvir, saying that he is “deliberately harming Israel’s image around the world in order to collect likes on social media."
Eisenkot added that “a prime minister who sees Israel’s best interests should have fired him a long time ago."
A few hours after the incident, the Israeli Foreign Ministry published photos portraying positive treatment of detained pro-Palestinian flotilla activists.
Ben-Gvir responded to the controversy, saying, “There are those in the government who still have not understood how supporters of terrorism should be treated. Israel’s foreign minister is expected to understand that Israel has stopped being a punching bag. Anyone who comes into our territory to support terrorism and identify with Hamas will get hit, and we will not turn the other cheek."
