A FAR-RIGHT Israeli minister has sparked fury after sharing a video showing him brutally harassing activists who had taken part in a flotilla to Gaza.
Around 430 civilians were detained by Israel while sailing in international waters – where Israel has no jurisdiction – as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a major humanitarian mission which aimed to deliver much-needed aid to Gaza.
Israeli forces began intercepting the flotilla on Monday, around 250 miles from Gaza, detaining the activists on a large makeshift prison ship. Lawyers representing the group confirmed on Wednesday they were being transported to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
Two Scots are among those to have been kidnapped: 68-year-old Hughie Stirling, an activist from Ullapool, and Dr Antonis Vradis, a staff member at the University of St Andrews.
On Wednesday, Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir – who has been sanctioned by the UK – posted a video on Twitter/X which shows activists being subject to horrific treatment.
One woman – believed to be Irish participant Catriona Graham – is seen shouting "Free Palestine!" before her head is violently grabbed by an Israeli officer and she is shoved to the ground, to which Ben-Gvir shouts "Shut up!" before walking away laughing.
The video further shows the activists with their hands tied behind their back and forced to kneel as their heads touch the floor, while Ben-Gvir can also be seen taunting, laughing, and waving a giant Israeli flag.
In a second video, Ben-Gvir says the activists “came here all full of pride like big heroes … Look at them now”, while appealing to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to grant him permission to imprison them.
“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.
Ben-Gvir has been widely condemned for the footage, which has now sparked a number of diplomatic incidents.
The far-right minister was sanctioned by the UK Government last year, accused of inciting “extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights".
The National told in March how he was seen brandishing a champagne bottle in the Israeli parliament after the passing of a death penalty law for Palestinian detainees who have been convicted as "terrorists".
The Italian government has summoned the Israeli ambassador to "request formal clarifications on what has occurred".
Italian president Giorgia Meloni said: "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."
Le immagini del ministro israeliano Ben Gvir sono inaccettabili. È inammissibile che questi manifestanti, fra cui molti cittadini italiani, vengano sottoposti a questo trattamento lesivo della dignità della persona. Il Governo italiano sta immediatamente compiendo, ai più alti…
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) May 20, 2026
France's foreign minister Jean-noel Barrot has also summoned Israel's ambassador to France, saying that Ben-Gvir's actions were "unacceptable".
Ireland's foreign minister Helen McEntee also condemned Ben-Gvir's "appalling and unacceptable" behaviour, saying: "Our embassy has formally raised this matter with the Israeli authorities and have demanded proper and humane treatment of Irish citizens".
The Irish president's sister, Margaret Connolly, was one of 12 Irish citizens taking part in the flotilla.
Meanwhile, another member of the Israeli government, foreign affairs minister Gideon Sa'ar, slammed his own colleague over the video.
He said: "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 Israel."
Israeli prime minister Netanyahu said he has ordered the flotilla activists be deported "as soon as possible" and that Ben-Gvir's actions were "not in line with Israel's values".
He said: “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.”
Netanyahu is wanted for arrest by the International Criminal Court over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The Foreign Office previously said that it expects "the situation will be resolved safely and in line with international law".
A total of 15 UK participants are currently being held by Israel, with no knowledge of their condition.
The UK Government has been contacted for comment.
