Israel begins expelling activists from Gaza flotilla after outcry over their arrests
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The Gaza flotilla activists who were arrested by the Israelis and later thrown under the taunts of Israel’s far-right Police minister were released from prison and deported to their countries of origin on Thursday.
The activists were arrested in a port south of Israel after the Israeli navy held their protest in international waters. Their handling by the police under the direction of Itamar Ben-Gvir caused an international outcry and a rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ben-Gvir and at least one other cabinet member in Netanyahu’s government, Transport Minister Miri Regev, have posted campaign videos of them visiting the port and reprimanding protesters, an eye-catching stunt ahead of possible early elections in Israel.
Flotilla organizers say they aim to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid, something aid organizations say is still in short supply despite a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas from October 2025 that includes guarantees of increased aid.
The flotilla left southern Turkey this week before being blocked on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Israeli rights group Adalah said that approximately 430 activists have been released from a prison in southern Israel and will be deported via Ramon Airport near Eilat on the Red Sea.
Ben-Gvir’s video showed police forcing the activist to the ground after he chanted “Free, free Palestine.”
The video also shows dozens of arrested activists kneeling in rows with their hands zipped behind their backs, in what appears to be Israel’s outermost port facility. In the background, soldiers armed with long guns are seen patrolling the area of the warship.
The arrests and taunts of these activists have prompted France, Canada, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands to summon top Israeli politicians to their countries.
Prime Minister Mark Carney called Israel’s treatment of activists “disgusting.” There are believed to be 12 Canadian citizens on the flotilla, although details of their deportation were not immediately clear.
Canada and Spain are among the countries that have imposed sanctions on Ben-Gvir and the country’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians, including those in the West Bank.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that whatever one thinks of the flotilla, “our people who participated in it must be treated with respect and released as soon as possible.”
Previous flotillas – which included Canadian citizens – were also intercepted by Israel, and the participants were later expelled.
Canada is among the nations that have summoned Israeli embassies over a video showing Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting Gaza flotilla activists who are kneeling on the ground with their hands tied. Prime Minister Mark Carney called the video ‘disgusting.’
Netanyahu reprimands Ben-Gvir
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that his country is making special flights to bring Turkish citizens and third-country nationals to Turkey. Those on board the flotilla included citizens of Spain, South Korea and Ireland.
“We will continue to respect the rights of our citizens and fulfill our obligation to help the citizens of Gaza,” Fidan said.
Spain’s foreign minister said its diplomats in Israel had been informed that 44 members of the Spanish flotilla would leave Israel.
During Israel’s two-year offensive in Gaza, which began after a Hamas attack in October 2023, Israeli soldiers often lined up Palestinians locked on the ground, with their hands tied.
“Look at them now. See how they look now, not heroes and not anything,” Ben-Gvir said in the video as he walked with the activists while carrying a large Israeli flag.
Posting his video from the port of Ashdod, Transport Minister Miri Regev, a member of Netanyahu’s political party, said: “This is what should be done to the supporters of terrorism who came to break the siege of Gaza.”
Netanyahu, who leads the most right-wing government in Israel’s history, said Ben-Gvir’s behavior was “incompatible with Israel’s principles and values.” The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said he “betrayed [the] the dignity of his nation.”
Ben-Gvir’s political base includes some of Israel’s most nationalist voters, a group that Netanyahu’s Likud party has tried to woo before the general election, which is due on October 27.
This week, Israel moved closer to snap elections after lawmakers agreed to dissolve parliament, with opinion polls showing Netanyahu would lose the first national vote since the 2023 fall of Hamas.
