GAZA, (PIC)
In scenes that sparked widespread international condemnation, activists from the “Global Sumud Flotilla” and the “Freedom Flotilla Coalition” appeared handcuffed and forced onto the ground inside Ashdod Port, while Israeli occupation forces reportedly compelled them to listen to the Israeli national anthem. The footage documented acts of humiliation and abuse following the interception of their boats in international waters as they attempted to break the siege on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
Israeli forces forcibly transferred the activists to Ashdod Port in southern Israel after seizing their vessels during their journey towards Gaza. Videos circulating online showed Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir during what was described as a “provocative and theatrical” visit, inciting against the detainees and verbally abusing them.
Ben-Gvir reportedly called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to keep the activists imprisoned “for a long time,” while openly boasting about the humiliation and abuse they had endured. وزير الأمن القومي الإسرائيلي إيتمار بن غفير: أطلب من نتنياهو أن يسلمني ناشطي الأسطول لاحتفظ بهم في السجون مع المخربين pic.twitter.com/OPmOxY2YVn — الجزيرة مباشر (@ajmubasher) May 20, 2026 In contrast, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized Ben-Gvir, stating, “You deliberately harmed the state through this disgraceful spectacle,” adding that the extremist minister had undermined extensive diplomatic and professional efforts carried out by Israeli officials and military personnel. He concluded by telling Ben-Gvir, “You are not the face of Israel.”
The “Global Sumud Flotilla,” which sailed from Türkiye last week, was the third initiative this year aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade imposed on Gaza, where severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel have intensified since the start of Israel’s war on the Strip on 7 October 2023.
Israel began intercepting the flotilla on Monday near the coast of Cyprus. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson described it as “another publicity flotilla that has come to an end,” announcing that all 430 activists had been transferred onto Israeli vessels.
International reactions quickly followed. Italy’s prime minister and foreign minister summoned the Israeli ambassador, demanding official explanations regarding what they described as the mistreatment of flotilla activists, stressing that what occurred was “unacceptable” and calling on Israel to issue a formal apology. ALERTE INFO — Les membres de la flottille kidnappée par Israël en eaux internationales subissent DES HUMILIATIONS de la part d’Itamar Ben-Gvir et des forces de police israéliennes. pic.twitter.com/I6We3CPivu — Focus (@FocusinfosFr) May 20, 2026 Intimidating free voices
The Asra Media Office condemned Israel’s continued “abduction and detention of free international solidarity activists participating in the Freedom Flotilla and the Global Sumud Flotilla,” describing it as an attempt to criminalize humanitarian solidarity with Palestinians through arrest, abuse, and intimidation.
The office stated that the treatment of activists, including “humiliation, torture, and forced detention,” forms part of a broader policy aimed at isolating Palestinians, suppressing the Palestinian narrative, and preventing global solidarity movements supporting Palestinian rights.
It added that the scenes of humiliation and public incitement led by Ben-Gvir expose “the true face of the occupation system built on organized violence and repression,” arguing that they reflect only part of the abuse endured by Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails, which it described as “sites of slow extermination and systematic torture.”
The office further stressed that the continued detention of the activists constitutes “a blatant violation of international laws and norms,” reflecting what it called Israel’s “impunity resulting from ongoing international silence and complicity.” BREAKING: Humanitarian activists from the GLOBAL SUMOOD FLOTILLA are being ZIP-TIED and ABUSED while being forced to listen to ISRAEL’s national anthem, “Hatikvah”, in Ashdod port. pic.twitter.com/y37YrnNwny — Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws1) May 20, 2026 Systematic humiliation
Meanwhile, the legal rights center, Adalah, said that videos released by Ben-Gvir from Ashdod Port showed Israeli prison service officers and soldiers assaulting and humiliating flotilla activists.
Adalah also pointed to footage published by Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev, in which she repeatedly described the activists as “terror supporters” and “under the influence of alcohol.” Another video showed activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs while the Israeli anthem played in the background.
The center stressed that these actions followed “the illegal interception of the flotilla in international waters and the unlawful abduction of more than 400 activists from around the world,” accusing Israel of pursuing “a systematic policy of humiliation and abuse against solidarity activists attempting to challenge Israeli crimes and break the illegal siege on Gaza.”
Adalah added that these violations continue a documented pattern of abuse against participants in previous flotillas “without any accountability for Israeli authorities.”
The center confirmed that a team of lawyers and volunteers had entered the detention facilities at Ashdod Port to provide legal assistance to detainees and demand their immediate and unconditional release, while urging the international community to take urgent steps to protect them from the “brutal and unlawful behavior” by Israeli authorities.
The organization noted that dozens of those detained include international solidarity activists, human rights defenders, medical personnel, and journalists, stressing that their detention constitutes “a grave violation of international law” and an extension of Israel’s policies of “collective punishment and starvation” against Palestinians in Gaza.
The “Global Sumud Flotilla” had announced on Monday morning that Israeli forces boarded its nearly 50 boats. In a later statement posted on X, the flotilla declared that “the Israeli occupation once again violently and illegally intercepted our international humanitarian flotilla and abducted our volunteers,” demanding their immediate release and the lifting of the siege on Gaza.
Calls for immediate release
In further international reactions, Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said that nine Indonesian nationals aboard the flotilla had all reportedly been detained by Israel, calling for the immediate release of all vessels and crew members while confirming the continued use of “all diplomatic and consular channels.”
The Indonesian newspaper Republika reported that two of its journalists were among those detained.
Türkiye and Spain also condemned the interception of the flotilla. Organizers added that participants included 15 Irish citizens, among them Margaret Conolly, the sister of Irish President Catherine Conolly.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung also condemned the incident on Wednesday, saying that Israel had detained South Korean citizens in international waters, describing the act as “a blatant overstepping of boundaries.” During a cabinet meeting, he said Israel had detained the citizens “without legal basis under international law,” questioning whether such actions could be allowed to pass “without protest.”