A boat bearing symbols of one of the vessels belonging to the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, intercepted by the Israeli navy, is motored towards the Israeli port of Ashdod, about 40 kilometres south of Tel Aviv, on May 19, 2026.
Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted a video on Wednesday showing detained activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs and foreheads on the ground.
The footage, published on Ben Gvir's X account and captioned "Welcome to Israel", shows dozens of activists on the deck of a military boat with the Israeli national anthem blaring, and in detention in Israel, where the minister is seen waving an Israeli flag.
The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Turkey last week in the latest attempt by activists to breach Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory, after Israeli forces intercepted a previous convoy last month. It is believed that seven South Africans form part of the crew.
In the video he shared, he is seen encouraging staff at the detention centre as they push down an activist who had stood up to say "free free Palestine" as he walked by.
