MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has sparked widespread international criticism after publishing a video mocking pro-Gaza activists who were detained while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The controversy intensified after France announced that Ben-Gvir had been banned from entering French territory following the release of the widely condemned video on his X account.
According to reports, the activists were aboard humanitarian aid boats attempting to reach Gaza with food, medicine, and other essential supplies when Israeli naval forces intercepted the vessels in international waters. The activists, who came from several countries around the world, were later detained and deported by Israeli authorities.
The video shared by Ben-Gvir reportedly showed him mocking and ridiculing the detained activists, drawing anger from human rights groups, international observers, and pro-Palestinian organizations, who described the footage as inflammatory and disrespectful.
A video shared by Israel’s National Security Minister Ben-Gvir shows Israeli security forces humiliating detained international activists.
When a senior minister taunts detainees on camera, it is a signal that abuse is not just tolerated but celebrated. pic.twitter.com/waaX0DHJSv
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) May 22, 2026
“Starting today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced on social media.
The incident comes amid growing global concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where international aid organizations have repeatedly warned of severe shortages of food, clean water, medicine, fuel, and medical supplies due to the ongoing conflict and blockade.
Humanitarian flotillas attempting to reach Gaza have long been a source of international tension. Activists involved in such missions argue that they are trying to break the blockade and deliver urgently needed aid to civilians, while Israel maintains that restrictions are necessary for security reasons.
Ben-Gvir, known for his hardline nationalist views and controversial statements regarding Palestinians, has frequently faced criticism from international governments and rights organizations over his rhetoric and policies.
The diplomatic fallout from the latest incident highlights increasing divisions between Israel and some Western governments over the handling of the Gaza conflict and the treatment of humanitarian activists attempting to assist civilians in the besieged territory.