Israeli National Security Minister released video footage showing detained Gaza flotilla activists kneeling handcuffed at Ashdod Port after Israeli forces intercepted the vessels attempting to breach the naval blockade of Gaza and brought the pro-Hamas activists to Israel.
The footage shows activists shouting āFree Palestineā as officers restrain several individuals while Ben Gvir tours the facility, waving a large Israeli flag and declaring in Hebrew: āWelcome to Israel, we’re in charge here.”
They were also forced to listen to the Israeli national anthem.
The visit sparked a severe diplomatic crisis and an open confrontation within the coalition.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar launched an unprecedented attack on Ben-Gvir, accusing him of directly harming Israelās national interests.
āYou knowingly caused damage to the state with this disgraceful spectacle ā and not for the first time,ā Saāar attacked Ben-Gvir. āYou threw away enormous professional and successful efforts carried out by many people ā from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry staff and many others. No, you are not the face of Israel.ā
The foreign ministerās attack came after days in which officials from the Foreign Ministry and the IDF worked around the clock to manage the diplomatic and public relations battle surrounding the takeover of the flotilla.
Officials in Israelās diplomatic establishment said international criticism over the flotilla interception itself had been expected and was being managed, but that the official footage released by Ben-Gvir from inside the detention facility dramatically changed the picture and triggered harsh reactions in Europe.
Following the incident, Israelās ambassador in Rome was summoned for an urgent clarification and reprimand meeting at the Italian Foreign Ministry.Ā Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani issued a furious statement demanding an apology for Israel’s treatment of the pro-Hamas activists and Israel’s “total disrespect” for Italy’s requests.
The statement did not mention the activists’ “disrespect” of Israel’s autonomy and its blockade of a murderous terror group.
āThe images of Israeli Minister Ben Gvir are unacceptable. It is unacceptable that these protesters, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates their human dignity,ā the statement said.
Ben-Gvir responded to the controversy by saying: āThere are people in the government who still have not understood how one should behave toward terror supporters. Israelās 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.ā
(YWN Israel DeskāJerusalem)
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11 Responses
I dont see nothing wrong here. Imagine a flotilla getting to a muslim country.They would wish they would only be “taunted”. So inhumane! Forced to listen to the Israeli National Anthem!
Ben Gvir is our hero
This reduces a minister of the Jewish state to the same level of imbecilic posturing as the “activists”. It also inflates their importance, in their own eyes and their followers. These martyrs manquĆ© should be treated as the pathetic drama tourists they are and not dignified with such attention.
Ben Gvir supported Baruch Goldstein; he is a walking disgrace to Israel, the Jewish people and all of humanity.
I so couldn’t care what Italy thinks or has to say.
G-d Bless Ithamar ben Gvir, the next Prime Minister of Israel š®š± who is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing, making us so proud.
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There is a midrash in which a Roman officiai is accompanied by a civilian.They see a Jew who doesn’t stand up for the official.The official tells his soldiers to take the Jew away.Then they meet another Jew who stands up for the official.Again the official tells his soldiers to take away the Jew.The commoner says I don’t understand.The official answers I look for any excuse to harm the Jews.
Ben Gevir for prime minister.
If someone attempts to break into your house and tells you to get out,you don’t belong there,we want to kill you are we supposed to greet them and feed them.
DrYidd: It takes one to know one..
These flotillas are a disgrace, claiming to contain aid for Gaza, when the IDF searched the boats and found none. These are hate crimes and the passengers involved should serve a heavy penalty for stirring up hatred against Israel.
Ben Gvir recklessly endangers Israel and Jews the world over. He should take off his yarmulke and stop pretending he stands for Jewish values.