In a move that sparked anger within Israeli security circles, Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir published video clips from a detention center in the port of Ashdod, in which the arrested “Resilience Fleet” activists appeared handcuffed and with their faces glued to the ground, in scenes that Israeli security authorities described as “provocative” and causing “enormous damage” to Israel.
According to Hebrew reports, Ben Gvir appeared in one of the recordings waving the Israeli flag over the heads of the activists, saying: “They came with a lot of arrogance as great heroes… Look how they have become now.”
In another clip, activists appear tied up on the ground in direct sunlight while the Israeli national anthem, “Hatikvah,” is played loudly. Screams were also heard in the background after the minister’s statements, while Ben Gvir said in an additional recording: “Welcome to Israel, we are the owners of the house.”
The report indicated that Ben Gvir’s actions contradicted explicit directives from the security establishment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Israeli army, which demanded that the flotilla activists be dealt with “without provocations” in preparation for their deportation outside Israel.
According to the report, the Shayetet 13 units, the Navy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had succeeded until that moment in controlling the fleet heading to Gaza “without unnecessary provocations,” before Ben Gvir sparked the controversy by publishing the video clips.
The report quoted Israeli security sources as saying that the minister was “causing enormous damage,” especially since his appearance also came alongside the Commissioner of the Prison Service, Kobi Yacobi, who is suspected of involvement in a case involving those close to Ben Gvir.
In a remarkable development, Reuters quoted South Korean President Lee Jae-myung as saying that Israel “kidnapped” a Korean citizen illegally and in violation of international law, considering that Israel’s behavior was “exaggerated” and “completely inappropriate.”
Korean media reported that the matter was related to one of the participants in the “Resilience Flotilla” to Gaza, who was arrested by Israeli forces yesterday. The Korean SBS channel also reported that two Korean citizens, Kim Dong-hyun and Kim Ah-hyun, in addition to the Korean-American citizen Jonathan Victor Lee, were on board the ships that participated in the flotilla and were arrested by Israeli forces.
Last night, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the end of the process of controlling the Turkish fleet, confirming the transfer of all 430 activists who participated in it to Israeli ships on their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet their consular representatives.
The ministry added in its statement that “this fleet has proven once again that it is nothing but a public relations display in the service of Hamas,” stressing that Israel “will continue to act in full accordance with international law and will not allow any violation of the legal naval blockade of Gaza.”
This incident once again reveals the extent of the division within Israel between the traditional security approach and the escalatory political behavior led by Ben Gvir, in issues that have now gone beyond the Israeli interior and have direct diplomatic and international repercussions.
