Israel taunt sparks international outrage

Israel faced widening diplomatic criticism on Thursday after National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted video of detained Gaza flotilla activists kneeling with their hands bound following the interception of aid vessels at sea. The footage, posted on X a day after the activists were brought to Ashdod, prompted rebukes from European and Asian officials and added to pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, said he was “appalled” and called for the activists’ immediate release. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung went further, calling Netanyahu a “war criminal” over the detention of activists that included a South Korean citizen. ### What set off the latest backlash? Wednesday’s video from Ben-Gvir showed detained activists from the Gaza-bound flotilla kneeling with their foreheads down and hands bound at Ashdod Port, according to Reuters and Israeli media reports. Israeli forces had intercepted the vessels on May 18 as the flotilla sought to reach Gaza and challenge Israel’s naval blockade. Reuters reported that the images triggered criticism from multiple governments after Ben-Gvir circulated them online. The minister’s office did not immediately retract the footage, and the episode quickly became a diplomatic issue beyond Israel’s usual regional critics. ### Why did Antonio Costa’s reaction stand out? (al-monitor.com) Antonio Costa said on May 21 that he was “appalled” by Ben-Gvir’s treatment of the flotilla members and called the behavior “completely unacceptable,” according to Reuters. Costa also called for the activists’ immediate release, putting the European Council directly on record against the handling of the detainees. (al-monitor.com) The European criticism mattered because it came from one of the bloc’s top institutional leaders rather than from a single national government. Reuters’ account described the reaction as part of a broader wave of condemnation from national and international officials after the video was posted. ### What did South Korea’s president say? (usnews.com) Lee Jae-myung said Israel’s detention of a South Korean citizen aboard the flotilla was illegal and described Netanyahu as a “war criminal,” according to the Jerusalem Post and South Korean media reports surfaced in search results. Lee also questioned the legal basis for seizing activists in international waters and instructed officials to review possible legal steps. (al-monitor.com) South Korea’s reaction drew attention because Seoul is not usually at the center of diplomatic disputes over Gaza flotillas. The Jerusalem Post reported that Lee accused Israel of illegally detaining activists after the May 18 interception. ### Did criticism also come from inside Israel? Israeli media reports said Netanyahu also criticized Ben-Gvir over the video. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that the prime minister joined Israeli and Jewish critics in denouncing the minister’s decision to post footage of himself taunting detainees. (jpost.com) The Times of Israel reported that the video itself immediately sparked an international outcry after Ben-Gvir published it on May 20. That added domestic political friction to the external diplomatic fallout. ### What happens next for the flotilla activists? Al Jazeera reported on May 21 that Israel had begun deporting flotilla activists after detaining hundreds of foreign participants. (jta.org) Reuters-linked reports published the same day said governments were pressing for releases as criticism mounted over the treatment shown in the video. (timesofisrael.com) The next developments are likely to come from deportation proceedings, foreign ministry statements and any further response from Netanyahu’s government or Ben-Gvir’s office. On May 21, those proceedings were already underway as international objections continued to build. (aljazeera.com)