Israeli police on Wednesday (May 20) forced detained activists who were aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla to kneel on the ground in rows with their hands tied behind their backs while a minister looked on, drawing criticism from foreign leaders and even from inside Israel's own government.

After police detained the activists, who organisers said numbered 430 people including citizens of Italy and South Korea, Israel's far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on X showing officers forcing a detained activist to the ground after she chants "Free, free Palestine".

The video also showed dozens of detained activists kneeling in rows with their hands zip-tied behind their backs, in what appears to be an outdoor Israeli port facility. In the background, soldiers armed with long guns could be seen patrolling the area from aboard a military vessel.

"They came as big heroes," Ben Gvir said in the video as he walked by the activists while carrying a large Israeli flag. "Look at them now. See how they look now, not heroes and not anything."

Reuters verified the ship seen in the video by its deck structure, bridge, stairs and container which matched Reuters footage of the vessel that arrived in Ashdod port on May 20 and was reportedly carrying foreign activists. Reuters could not independently confirm that the vessel was carrying foreign activists, but the facial hair and features of some people under arrest matched visuals of some participants on the Global Sumud Flotilla. The date was not verified, but no older version of the video was found posted online before May 20.

Reuters verified the location as Ashdod port in Israel from the white structure, which matched another video verified by Reuters from the same location. The date when the video was filmed was not verified, but no older version of the video was found posted online before May 20.

The activists were aboard a flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters on Tuesday (May 19) and later taken to an Israeli port.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ASHDOD PORT, ISRAEL (RELEASED MAY 20, 2026) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) (ITAMAR BEN-GVIR - MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY ITAMAR BEN-GVIR)

1. ACTIVIST SHOUTING (English): "Free Palestine", ISRAELI SECURITY KNEELING ACTIVIST DOWN

2. ISRAELI SECURITY DRAGGING ACTIVIST / ISRAELI FAR-RIGHT LEADER MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY ITAMAR BEN-GVIR AT SCENE

3. BEN-GVIR WAVING ISRAELI FLAG, SHOUTING (Hebrew): "Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords"

4. ACTIVISTS KNEELING WITH HANDS RESTRAINED

5. VARIOUS OF ISRAELI SECURITY HOLDING ACTIVISTS

6. ACTIVISTS KNEELING WITH HANDS RESTRAINED / AUDIO OF ISRAEL'S NATIONAL ANTHEM

7. BEN-GVIR TALKING TO DETAINED ACTIVIST, REPEATING (Hebrew): "Long live the people of Israel."

8. VARIOUS OF ISRAELI SECURITY DRAGGING ACTIVISTS

9. BEN-GVIR AT SCENE

ASHDOD PORT, ISRAEL (RELEASED MAY 20, 2026) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) (OFFICE OF ITAMAR BEN-GVIR - MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY OFFICE OF ITAMAR BEN-GVIR)

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI FAR-RIGHT LEADER, MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY ITAMAR BEN-GVIR, SAYING:

"They came with much pride, as big heroes. Look, see how they look now, look. Look at how they look now. Not heroes and not anything, terror supporters. I tell Prime Minister Netanyahu: Give them to me for much more time. Give them to us for the terrorists' prisons. This is how it should look."