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A video released on social media on May 20 (local time) by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir captures a scene appearing to show the Israeli military abusing international activists. / Captured from Minister Ben-Gvir's social media accounts

The international community has risen in collective condemnation after Israel released footage showing the capture and abuse of international activists who were sailing to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

The video, posted on May 20 (local time) to social media by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, captures approximately 430 international activists at a detention facility in the southern Israeli port of Ashdod. The activists are seen being dragged by security personnel with their hands bound, forced to lie face down on the ground, or made to kneel.

In the footage, Minister Ben-Gvir engaged in a verbal altercation with a man presumed to be an activist. Upon witnessing another activist being subdued, Ben-Gvir remarked, "This is exactly how it should be."

Those detained belong to a humanitarian aid flotilla that recently departed from Türkiye in an attempt to break Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the video on May 20, stating, "Israel has the right to stop the provocative flotilla of Hamas terror supporters, but Minister Ben-Gvir's approach was wrong," adding that "the way he handled the activists does not align with Israel's values and norms," AP News reported.

Adalah, a human rights organization, issued a statement declaring, "Israeli authorities are executing a criminal policy of abuse and degradation against the activists." The group added, "This incident mirrors past abuses by Israeli authorities against maritime protesters, for which Israel faced no accountability."

Yvette Cooper, the British Foreign Secretary, demanded an explanation from Israeli authorities, stating, "The treatment depicted in the video violates the most fundamental standards of respect and dignity."

Italy similarly condemned the incident as an unacceptable violation of human dignity. The Italian government summoned the Israeli ambassador in Rome to lodge a formal protest and demanded the immediate release of the detained activists.

Anita Anand, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that she had instructed officials to summon the Israeli ambassador in Ottawa.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the actions, stating, "This behavior by the Israeli government openly exposes its violent and barbaric mindset to the entire world."

Meanwhile, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized Minister Ben-Gvir's actions as "unacceptable and entirely condemnable," confirming that a formal complaint had been filed.

                                                                                                             Kim Hyun-min