Netanyahu to US Criticizes Itamar Ben-Gvir's Actions Against Global Sumud Flotilla Activists

JAKARTA - The actions of the right-wing Israeli minister against humanitarian activists who are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla have drawn criticism from within Israel to close allies of the United States.

Previously, Israel had reaped international criticism, from Italy to Indonesia, regarding its treatment of 430 detained humanitarian activists,

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir uploaded a video showing him mocking the detained activists in a kneeling position with his head touching the ground, while his hands were handcuffed behind his back, on his X social media account, with the caption "welcome to Israel."

The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns Israel's inhumane actions against Global Sumud Flotilla activists who were detained and subjected to arbitrary treatment.

"Indonesia condemns the inhumane actions against the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 volunteers carried out by Israel. This action is contrary to humanitarian principles," the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote in a post on the X social media, Thursday (21/5).

That's how we get the terrorist supporters.

Welcome to Israel 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/7Hf8cAg7fC

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 20, 2026

Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the video "unacceptable" and criticized the treatment of activists who violated their human dignity.

The Italian Foreign Ministry said a member of the country's parliament and a journalist were among those detained.

PM Meloni wrote on X, his government is taking immediate steps at the highest level to ensure the release of all detained Italian citizens.

"Italy also demands an apology for the treatment of these demonstrators and for the insult shown to the explicit request of the Italian government," he said, adding that the Israeli ambassador in Rome would also be summoned.

In France, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a tweet that he had summoned the Israeli ambassador in Paris regarding the mistreatment of French citizens on the ship.

"Regardless of what one thinks of this fleet - and we have on several occasions expressed our disapproval of this initiative - our colleagues who are participating in it must be treated with respect and released as soon as possible," he wrote.

Spain and Ireland also issued statements, condemning Ben Gvir's "horrible" and "horrible" behavior.

From the United States, President Donald Trump's administration issued a rare criticism, calling Ben-Gvir's actions "disgraceful."

"The flotilla was a stupid action, but Ben-Gvir betrayed the dignity of his people," wrote the US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on X.

At home, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar criticized Ben-Gvir's actions.

"Israel has the full right to prevent the provocative flotilla of Hamas terrorists from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza. However, the way Minister Ben-Gvir handled the flotilla activists does not conform to Israeli values and norms," Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized.

"I have instructed the relevant authorities to deport the provocateurs as soon as possible," he added.

"You knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display - and not for the first time.

You have undone tremendous, professional, and successful efforts made by so many people - from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry staff and many others.

No, you are not the face of… https://t.co/KOj6fhpyM7

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) May 20, 2026

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Sa'ar in a post on his personal X gave a sharper rebuke to Ben-Gvir, which was also shared by the official account of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"You deliberately caused damage to the state with this shameful appearance, and not for the first time," Sa'ar wrote, addressed to Ben Gvir.

"You have wasted the great, professional, and successful efforts of many people - from the IDF soldiers to the employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and many other great individuals," he criticized.

"No, you are not the face of Israel," Sa'ar said.

According to the public broadcaster Kan, Israel's Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi - considered a close ally of Ben Gvir - gave the minister permission to visit the facility where the activists were being held, as well as to witness them being detained, forced to kneel on the ground, and to let the minister parade with an Israeli flag and Hebrew music playing loudly.

The prison service insisted in a statement to Haaretz that the activists' detention "was carried out according to professional procedures and considerations," while the media suggested that the prison officers present in the clip were acting against political and military policy.

As previously reported, Israeli naval commandos intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian convoy that left Turkey last week, with the aim of the Gaza Strip, Palestine, to break through the Israeli naval blockade to provide humanitarian aid.

The interception in Cypriot waters was followed by the arrest of 430 humanitarian activists in the fleet, who were then taken to Israel, as reported by Al Arabiya from AFP.

The activists were detained in Ashdod Port, after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a day earlier stated that the latest fleet aimed at breaking the Gaza sea blockade had "ended."

Israel dismissed the flotilla as a "publicity stunt for Hamas' benefit."

This is not the first time that Ben Gvir, who is responsible for the police and prison services, has proudly boasted about his tough policies.

In February, he posted a video of himself visiting Ofer Prison, where guards were seen treating Palestinian security prisoners harshly.