{"id":316513,"date":"2026-05-25T12:00:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T11:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=316513"},"modified":"2026-05-22T18:40:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T17:40:25","slug":"news-agencies-on-israels-torture-of-flotilla-activists-abducted-in-international-waters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2026\/05\/news-agencies-on-israels-torture-of-flotilla-activists-abducted-in-international-waters\/","title":{"rendered":"News Agencies on Israel\u2019s Torture of Flotilla Activists Abducted in International Waters"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ben-gvir-sumud-flotilla-israel.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-316573\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ben-gvir-sumud-flotilla-israel-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ben-gvir-sumud-flotilla-israel-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ben-gvir-sumud-flotilla-israel-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ben-gvir-sumud-flotilla-israel-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ben-gvir-sumud-flotilla-israel.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cDon\u2019t be bothered by their screams.\u201d<em>: Israeli minister Ben-Gvir proudly <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/johnstone8.wordpress.com\/?action=user_content_redirect&amp;uuid=cf0448a67c0afc63abffd0d701d2799ec03b84c07c50ca7a6e90ab5cd61b14d3&amp;blog_id=221180037&amp;post_id=6789&amp;user_id=249670626&amp;subs_id=228812669&amp;signature=3033742215a7136b1f7c41a7df3220aa&amp;email_name=new-post&amp;user_email=tms-submissions@transcend.org&amp;encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly94LmNvbS9pdGFtYXJiZW5ndmlyL3N0YXR1cy8yMDU3MDQ2OTI1NDE3ODI0Njk3&amp;email_id=3d7af436419ea5698418bb8b35bc6fd3\" >posts video<\/a> on <\/em>X<em> of police dragging members of the Sumud Flotilla, being violently humiliated.<\/em>\u00a0<em>They had been illegally <a href=\"https:\/\/johnstone8.wordpress.com?action=user_content_redirect&amp;uuid=821a64b2755b0a037e60349042d0d09bd89be9ebd88e9b627cf32132e1deca83&amp;blog_id=221180037&amp;post_id=6789&amp;user_id=249670626&amp;subs_id=228812669&amp;signature=e7fb9c773d455c02eb16dbb3877f4a7d&amp;email_name=new-post&amp;user_email=tms-submissions@transcend.org&amp;encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYWxqYXplZXJhLmNvbS9uZXdzLzIwMjYvNS8xOS9nYXphLWFpZC1mbG90aWxsYS1vcmdhbmlzZXJzLXNheS00MS1ib2F0cy1pbnRlcmNlcHRlZC0xMC1zdGlsbC1zYWlsaW5n&amp;email_id=3d7af436419ea5698418bb8b35bc6fd3\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/johnstone8.wordpress.com?action%3Duser_content_redirect%26uuid%3D821a64b2755b0a037e60349042d0d09bd89be9ebd88e9b627cf32132e1deca83%26blog_id%3D221180037%26post_id%3D6789%26user_id%3D249670626%26subs_id%3D228812669%26signature%3De7fb9c773d455c02eb16dbb3877f4a7d%26email_name%3Dnew-post%26user_email%3Dtms-submissions@transcend.org%26encoded_url%3DaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYWxqYXplZXJhLmNvbS9uZXdzLzIwMjYvNS8xOS9nYXphLWFpZC1mbG90aWxsYS1vcmdhbmlzZXJzLXNheS00MS1ib2F0cy1pbnRlcmNlcHRlZC0xMC1zdGlsbC1zYWlsaW5n%26email_id%3D3d7af436419ea5698418bb8b35bc6fd3&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1779435844833000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Bk1WZSR7mkFH4VoMlJ70x\">abducted by Zionist forces<\/a> on high seas. <\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Video legends:<\/em> \u201c<strong>This is how we accept the supporters of terrorism<\/strong>\u201d in Hebrew and \u201c<strong>Welcome to Israel<\/strong>\u201d in English.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*************************<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Israel Minister Ben-Gvir Releases Videos Taunting Flotilla Activists <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>AP Associated Press \u2013 TRANSCEND Media Service<\/p>\n<p><strong>21 May 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Israel&#8217;s national security minister drew a sharp rebuke from his boss and triggered a backlash abroad on Wednesday, after he released videos taunting and telling detained activists from a flotilla that tried to get past the Israeli blockade of Gaza that they should be imprisoned for a very long time.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Israel&amp;apos;s security minister releases videos taunting detained flotilla activists\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uss-O0cZDV4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*******<\/p>\n<p><strong>Footage Shows Israel&#8217;s Ben-Gvir Taunting Detained Flotilla Activists<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Reuters \u2013 TRANSCEND Media Service<\/p>\n<p><strong>20 May 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Israeli police forced detained activists who were on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla to kneel on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs while a minister looked on, drawing criticism from foreign leaders and even from inside Israel&#8217;s own government.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Footage appears to show Israel&amp;apos;s Ben-Gvir taunting detained flotilla activists\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dkJ3hNergOM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*******<\/p>\n<p><strong>Flotilla Activists Put in Stress Positions while Israeli Minister Taunts Them <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sky News \u2013 TRANSCEND Media Service<\/p>\n<p><strong>20 May 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Israel&#8217;s prime minister has rebuked his own security minister over a video that showed him taunting peace activists arrested by Israeli police. Itamar Ben-Gvir released the videos of himself verbally abusing those detained from a flotilla that tried to circumvent Israel&#8217;s blockade of Gaza and were detained in international waters.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"International anger after Israeli minister films himself taunting flotilla activists\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CgERI9LtDLQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*******<\/p>\n<p><strong>Far-Right Israeli Minister Condemned for Taunting Handcuffed Gaza Flotilla Activists<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>BBC News \u2013 TRANSCEND Media Service<\/p>\n<p><strong>20 May 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There has been international condemnation of Israel&#8217;s treatment of pro-Palestinian activists who were on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli naval forces. The US, the UK, France, Italy and Canada were among the countries which expressed outrage after far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video showing himself taunting activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs. His actions also drew rare criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said they were &#8220;not in line with Israel&#8217;s values&#8221;. The flotilla, which carried a token amount of aid, set out to highlight the conditions for Palestinians in war-torn Gaza. Israel dismissed it as a &#8220;PR stunt at the service of Hamas&#8221;. More than 50 boats taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Turkey. Armed Israeli naval commandos intercepted the fleet in international waters west of Cyprus, about 250 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza, which is under an Israeli maritime blockade. Ben-Gvir \u2013 an ultra-nationalist who, as national security minister, oversees Israel&#8217;s police force \u2013 posted a video on social media, captioned &#8220;Welcome to Israel&#8221;. It showed him visiting a detention facility at the port of Ashdod where the activists are being held. He is seen encouraging security personnel as they push down a female activist who shouts &#8220;Free, Free, Palestine&#8221; as he walks past her. Ben-Gvir is shown waving a large Israeli flag next to dozens of activists kneeling on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs. He tells them in Hebrew: &#8220;Welcome to Israel. We are the masters.&#8221; Other activists are shown kneeling on the deck of a ship as the Israeli national anthem is played. The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, called Ben-Gvir&#8217;s actions &#8220;despicable&#8221;. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the video showed &#8220;totally disgraceful scenes&#8221;, adding that she had sent a summons to the Israeli embassy to demand an &#8220;urgent explanation&#8221;. Italy, France, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain said Ben-Gvir&#8217;s actions were &#8220;unacceptable&#8221; and that they had summoned their respective Israeli ambassadors.<\/p>\n<p>Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Emir Nader.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Far-right Israeli minister condemned for taunting handcuffed Gaza flotilla activists | BBC News\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/g0I4QYw78Mc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*******<\/p>\n<p><strong>Israeli Minister Sparks Outcry Over Video of Tied-Up Flotilla Activists<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>AFP Agence France-Presse\u00a0\u2013 TRANSCEND Media Service<\/p>\n<p><strong>20 May 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Israel&#8217;s far-right national security minister posts a video showing detained activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla kneeling with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground while being brought to Israel following their detention. The Israeli authorities said 430 activists aboard the Global Sumud flotilla, which was attempting to breach Israel&#8217;s blockade of Gaza, are now en route to Israel, while the Adalah rights group said some have already arrived at Ashdod port and are being held there.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Israeli minister sparks outcry over video of tied-up flotilla activists | AFP\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/z9FX2nfqXns?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><em>JOIN THE BDS-BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, SANCTIONS CAMPAIGN TO PROTEST THE ISRAELI BARBARIC GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS IN GAZA AND WEST BANK.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><em>DON&#8217;T BUY PRODUCTS WHOSE BARCODE STARTS WITH <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>729, WHICH INDICATES THAT THEY ARE PRODUCED IN ISRAEL. DO YOUR PART! MAKE A DIFFERENCE!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><em>7 2 9: BOYCOTT FOR HUMAN JUSTICE!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>TRANSCEND VIDEOS <\/em>STAY POSTED FOR 2 WEEKS BEFORE BEING ARCHIVED<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cDon\u2019t be bothered by their screams.\u201d: Israeli minister Ben-Gvir proudly posts video on X of police dragging members of the Sumud Flotilla, being violently humiliated.\u00a0They had been illegally abducted by Zionist forces on high seas. Video legends: \u201cThis is how we accept the supporters of terrorism\u201d in Hebrew and \u201cWelcome to Israel\u201d in English.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[431],"tags":[229,3287,1559,101,100,1199,865,3566,88,2416,1243,427,3534,2897,880,99,70],"class_list":["post-316513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-transcend-videos","tag-activism","tag-anti-zionism","tag-collective-punishment","tag-cultural-violence","tag-direct-violence","tag-ethnic-cleansing","tag-genocide","tag-global-sumud-flotilla","tag-israel","tag-israeli-occupation","tag-nonviolent-action","tag-palestine","tag-palestinian-holocaust","tag-sociocide","tag-state-terrorism","tag-structural-violence","tag-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=316513"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":316579,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316513\/revisions\/316579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=316513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=316513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=316513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}