BENJAMIN Netanyahu has slammed his National Security Minister for “taunting” detained pro-Palestine activists from the Gaza flotilla.
The Israeli Prime Minister said: “Israel has every right to of Hamas terrorist supporters from entering our territorial waters and reaching Gaza.
Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed his national security minister for taunting detainees Credit: AFP
Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir released footage of the detainees in Ashdod Port Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
“However, the way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel’s values and norms.”
The rebuke came after IItamar Ben-Gvir released a video of detainees being bound and dragged in Israel’s Ashdod Port.
Footage shows the activists kneeling on a metal floor as Israel’s anthem plays in the background and armed guards watch on.
Later in the video a woman can be heard screaming, but Ben-Gvir says: “Don’t be bothered by their screams”.
A detainees head was grabbed and pushed down by a guard Credit: Screen grabs from video footage
The activist was then dragged across the floor Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
He captioned the post on X: “That’s how we welcome the terror supporters. Welcome to Israel.”
Netanyahu said he instructed the activists to be deported as soon as possible.
In a separate post on X, Israel’s Foreign Ministry shared images of guards offering activists bottles of water.
A detainee was also pictured smiling as she spoke with a guard while others were comforted.
Detainees were seen on their knees as armed guards watched on Credit: Screen grabs from video footage
The activists were bound and brought into a holding room by guards Credit: Screen grabs from video footage
The Foreign Ministry wrote: “These are our values”.
At least 50 boats were reportedly on Monday, around 70 nautical miles off the Mediterranean island.
Dr Margaret Connolly, the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, is believed to be one of the 426 activists detained.
The group was taken into custody by the Israeli military off the coast of Cyprus.
Netanyahu monitored the operation from the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv as naval commandos boarded the vessels.
Images posted by Israel’s foreign ministry showed activists smiling Credit: IFM
Activists were also seen being offered water by Israeli guards Credit: IFM
Videos from Dr Connolly and five others, which appear to have been recorded before they were detained, have been released by the flotilla.
In her video, Dr Connolly said she had been “utterly compelled – as a mother, a doctor, and as a human being – to help this flotilla”.
has described the vessels as a “provocation” and claimed there was no aid on board the vessels.
An hour before the interception, Israel told the ships to “change course and turn back immediately”.
The boats set sail from southern Turkey on Thursday, and were intercepted four days later Credit: Global Sumud Flotilla
The Israeli Prime Minister praised the soldiers for “thwarting a malicious plan designed to break the isolation we are imposing on Hamas terrorists in Gaza”.
“You are doing this with great success, and I must say also quietly, and certainly with less prominence than our enemies expected — so, heartfelt congratulations,” he told naval commandos over the , the New York Post reported.
Netanyahu was originally scheduled to appear in court on Monday to testify in his ongoing corruption trial.
The boats set sail from southern Turkey on Thursday.
Earlier attempts to deliver aid to Gaza have also been intercepted by Israel in international waters.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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