A video posted by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir set off a wave of international reactions. It shows humanitarian flotilla activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs at the port of Ashdod, captioned "Welcome to Israel." The scene followed the interception at sea of the Global Sumud flotilla, which had departed from Turkey.
Around 430 activists representing more than 40 nationalities were intercepted and then transferred to the port of Ashdod. Several states, including France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Australia, summoned the Israeli ambassador or chargé d'affaires to protest the treatment of those detained. Within the Israeli government itself, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar publicly distanced themselves from Ben-Gvir's move, calling it contrary to the country's values.
The episode unfolds amid growing diplomatic pressure on Israel since the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. The broad transatlantic response, including from traditional allies, marks a shift in the usual dynamics of support. At the same time, U.S. sanctions targeting flotilla organizers were announced, reflecting diverging approaches among capitals over what pressure to apply.
Several points remain disputed. Some actors describe the interception in international waters as an illegal act, while others do not contest its legality and focus their criticism on the video alone. Ben-Gvir's gesture is read by some as a personal misstep separate from official policy, and by others as a symptom of a broader pattern. The weight given to the humanitarian context in Gaza also varies sharply among the actors involved.
