‘Don’t Be Bothered by Their Screams’ Ben-Gvir Posts Video of Police Dragging Detained Gaza Flotilla Activists

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‘Don’t Be Bothered by Their Screams’ Ben-Gvir Posts Video of Police Dragging Detained Gaza Flotilla Activists
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir speaks to a detained Gaza-bound flotilla activist in a video released Wednesday. (Screenshot/Itamar Ben-Gvir)

The video shows the activists kneeling on a metal floor in an unshaded area while Israel’s anthem is playing and armed Border Police officers watch. Later in the video, a woman is heard pleading and screaming, as Ben-Gvir says, ‘Don’t be bothered by their screams’

By Josh Breiner, reposted from Haaretz, May 20, 2026

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday released a video showing detained participants of the intercepted Gaza-bound flotilla being bound and dragged in Israel’s Ashdod Port, writing, “That’s how we welcome the terror supporters. Welcome to Israel.”

Following the video, Italy said Ben-Gvir’s conduct towards the activists is “inadmissible” and summoned the Israeli ambassador to demand “formal explanations.” France also summoned its Israeli ambassador.

In the video, masked police officers are seen pushing the flotilla activists to the ground, forcing them to stand on all fours, and dragging them across the floor. The activists are seen lined up inside a warehouse, forced to kneel with their faces to the ground with their hands zip-tied behind their backs.

Ben-Gvir is seen walking into the warehouse and waving an Israeli flag while yelling, “Welcome to Israel. We’re the landlords,” followed by, “Good job. That’s how you do it.” He is also seen saying “good job” while walking by masked officers binding a woman.

The video also shows the activists forced to kneel on a metal floor in an unshaded area while Israel’s anthem is playing, surrounded by containers and barbed wire, while armed Border Police officers keep watch. At the end of the video, a woman can be heard pleading and screaming, with Ben-Gvir saying to the camera, “Don’t be bothered by their screams.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry did not answer Haaretz’s inquiry as to whether the way the flotilla detainees were documented in Ben-Gvir’s videos – lying down and handcuffed – is the standard procedure for holding them, or whether it was staged specifically for the minister’s videos, and referred inquiries to the Israel Prison Service.

Amid the developing diplomatic row, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare rebuke of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir regarding his treatment of the detained activists.

“Israel has every right to prevent provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza,” he said in a statement.

“However, the way that Minister Ben-Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel’s values and norms,” he continued, adding that he had instructed Israeli authorities to deport the activists “as soon as possible.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on X that Ben-Gvir’s conduct towards the detained flotilla activists was “unacceptable” and summoned the Israeli ambassador to demand a formal clarification.

Meloni also said the Italian government was taking “all necessary steps” to secure the immediate release of detained Italian citizens, and demanded Israel issue a formal apology for the activists’ treatment.

French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot also summoned the Israeli ambassador in Paris.”

“Mr. Ben Gvir’s actions towards the passengers of the Global Sumud flotilla, denounced by his own ⁠colleagues in the Israeli government, are unacceptable,” Barrot ‌said in ⁠a post ‌on X.

Barrot said French citizens must be treated ⁠with respect and freed as soon as possible, though he added ‌that he opposed the flotilla’s approach.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Ben-Gvir “is not the face of Israel.” He attacked his coalition partner, saying he “knowingly damaged the country with this horrendous charade, and not for the first time.” Sa’ar said that Ben-Gvir’s video spoiled the “great efforts” made by many Israeli officials and IDF soldiers.

Bound flotilla activists kneeling on the floor, crowded, with soldiers standing above them on converted shipping containers, with machine guns drawn.
Detained Gaza-bound flotilla activists kneeling at the Ashdod Port, in a video released Wednesday. (Screenshot/Itamar Ben-Gvir)

On Tuesday, the Israeli Navy completed its takeover of the 68 Gaza-bound vessels, with the country’s Foreign Ministry confirming that “all 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli vessels and are making their way to Israel,” adding that they “will be able to meet with their consular representatives.”

The activists include Italian lawmaker Dario Carotenuto and the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly. Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin on Monday called Israel’s interception of the Gaza-bound boats in international waters “absolutely unacceptable.”

Also on Tuesday, Israeli forces opened fire on at least two ‌vessels sailing in an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, according to video ⁠footage and the flotilla organizers, but there were no reports of any casualties.

Video from the ⁠flotilla’s livestream showed soldiers firing shots at two of the boats, but the type of ammunition was not clear. Another spokesperson for the flotilla said six vessels had been fired at.

On Wednesday, South ‌Korean President Lee ‌Jae Myung said ⁠Israel had detained ⁠South Korean nationals in international waters, calling the action “way out of line.”

In a cabinet ‌meeting, Lee said ‌the South Korean citizens had been detained for reasons not valid under international law, questioning whether such actions could be allowed ⁠to pass without protest.

Liza Rozovsky, Rawan Suleiman, Nir Hasson and Reuters contributed to this report.

*Additionally*

Ships from the Global Sumud Flotilla had set sail for a third time ​on Thursday from southern Turkey, as Palestinians and international aid bodies ⁠say supplies reaching Gaza are still insufficient.

By Ali Kucukgocmen, reposted from Reuters, May 18, 2026

ISTANBUL, May 18 (Reuters) – The organisers of a flotilla of aid vessels bound for Gaza said on Monday that Israeli ‌forces had intercepted 39 of their boats in the eastern Mediterranean, while the remaining ships were continuing to sail toward the enclave.
 
Earlier on Monday, Israel’s foreign ministry had said on X that it “will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza”.
 
Ships from the Global Sumud Flotilla had set sail for a third time ​on Thursday from southern Turkey, after earlier attempts to deliver aid to Gaza were intercepted by Israel in international waters.
 
Live video showed ​military vessels approaching the vessels on Monday.
 
“Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and (Israeli) forces are boarding ⁠the first of our boats in broad daylight,” the Global Sumud Flotilla initially said on X.
 
“We demand safe passage for our legal, non-violent ​humanitarian mission.”
 
The group said there were 426 people taking part in the 54-vessel flotilla from 39 countries. It named 44 Turks among those ​on the intercepted vessels, some 250 nautical miles (463 km) from Gaza.
 
Israel’s foreign ministry also called on “all participants in this provocation to change course and turn back immediately”.
 
A Turkish activist on board the L’Arq vessel in the flotilla said he does not fear interception by Israeli forces but voiced concern for those already seized, ​adding the crew on his boat expected interception as soon as they got close to Gaza.
Israeli navy men storm up a ladder.
[1/3] An Israeli naval boat intercepts the Global Sumud Flotilla en route to Gaza, in an attempt to deliver aid, at sea May 18, 2026, in this screengrab taken from a handout video. Global Sumud Flotilla/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights
A person raises his hands
[2/3] A person raises his hands as an Israeli naval boat intercepts the Global Sumud Flotilla en route to Gaza, in an attempt to deliver aid, at sea May 18, 2026, in this screengrab taken from a handout video. Global Sumud Flotilla/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights
A full picture of Israeli navy boarding boat filled with soldiers.
[3/3] An Israeli naval boat intercepts the Global Sumud Flotilla en route to Gaza, in an attempt to deliver aid, at sea May 18, 2026, in this screengrab taken from a handout video. Global Sumud Flotilla/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
“We don’t know where they are, we don’t ​know how many of them were actually taken,” Ahmet Soylemez said, speaking aboard the boat. A live tracker on the flotilla’s website showed L’Arq was ‌around 215 ⁠nautical miles from Gaza.

TURKEY SEEKING SAFE RETURN OF NATIONALS

Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned the Israeli intervention as a “new act of piracy”, adding Ankara was taking the necessary steps to ensure the safe return of Turkish citizens on board the flotilla in coordination with other relevant countries.
 
Speaking in Ankara, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan also condemned the intervention against the “voyagers of hope” in the flotilla and called on the international community to act ​against Israel’s actions.
 
The previous flotilla departed ​from Spain on April 12. ⁠But Israeli forces intercepted vessels in that group, taking more than 100 pro-Palestinian activists to Crete and detaining two others in Israel.
 
Last October, Israel’s military halted another flotilla assembled by the same organisation, arresting Swedish activist Greta ​Thunberg and more than 450 participants.
 
Palestinians and international aid bodies, along with Turkey and a number ​of other countries, ⁠say supplies reaching Gaza are still insufficient, despite a ceasefire reached in October that included guarantees of increased aid.
 
Most of Gaza’s more than 2 million people have been displaced, many now living in bombed-out homes and makeshift tents pitched on open ground, roadsides, or atop the ruins of destroyed buildings.
 
Israel, ⁠which controls ​all access to the Gaza Strip, denies withholding supplies for its residents. Its foreign ​ministry said more than 1.58 million metric tons of humanitarian aid and thousands of tons of medical supplies have entered Gaza since October 2025.

Josh Breiner is Haaretz’s police reporter.

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