Itamar Ben Gvir was once regarded as too extreme for the Israeli political mainstream.
But the former youth activist has surged in popularity during the past decade to become the country’s national security minister and one of the best known figures in the country.
Since the start of the genocide in Gaza in 2023, his reputation has spread worldwide, driven by incendiary actions and rhetoric against Palestinians and their supporters.
In May, he was filmed abusing and humiliating the Global Sumud Flotilla activists, who Israeli forces seized in international waters, sparking a backlash in Israel and beyond.
Global leaders denounced Ben Gvir's treatment of their citizens, while Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamyn Netanyahu, bemoaned how he had hurt Israel’s image.
