Israel deports flotilla activists as Ben-Gvir video draws European outrage

Israel began deporting hundreds of international activists Thursday after intercepting their 50-boat humanitarian flotilla in international waters off Cyprus, as a video showing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mocking handcuffed detainees sparked diplomatic protests from six European governments, according to ynet as reported by The Korea Times.

The episode has generated rare diplomatic friction between Israel and its European partners, with the European Commission declaring the treatment of activists "completely unacceptable" and calling on Israel to ensure their "protection and dignified treatment," according to ynet, as reported by The Korea Times.

Israel stopped the Gaza Sumud Flotilla — a convoy of approximately 430 international activists aboard 50 vessels — in international waters after the ships attempted to breach Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, ynet reported. Deportations began Thursday, with participants transported from Israeli detention facilities to Ramon Airport in southern Israel and Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.

The immediate catalyst for diplomatic backlash was a video posted Wednesday showing Ben-Gvir at a deportation site appearing to mock handcuffed detainees. Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and the Netherlands either summoned Israeli ambassadors or lodged formal protests over how the activists were treated, according to The Korea Times, citing ynet.

A European Commission spokesman called Ben-Gvir's conduct "completely unacceptable" and said the bloc expected Israel to "ensure the protection and dignified treatment of these activists," The Korea Times reported.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar both moved to distance themselves from Ben-Gvir's actions, though neither publicly named the minister in their statements, according to ynet as reported by The Korea Times.

The Adalah human rights organization said all participants in the flotilla "have been released from prison in Israel and were now on their way to be deported," accusing Israeli authorities of torture, humiliation and unlawful detention during the activists' imprisonment.

Four activists were deported through Ben Gurion International Airport, while the remainder left via Ramon Airport in southern Israel, according to ynet as reported by The Korea Times.