Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev has boasted about the mistreatment of activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla detained by Israel, saying that “prison is the place for terrorism supporters”.
Regev, from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, posted a video from Ashdod port in southern Israel showing the arrival of a ship carrying dozens of detained flotilla activists under the title: “This is what will be done to terrorism supporters who came to break the blockade on Gaza.”
In the video, Regev said she had arranged for Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah, to be the first thing heard by the 140 flotilla activists upon their arrival at the port.
“So they understand what will happen to those who arrive in this way to Israel,” she said.
Regev added: “The second Israeli ship is now arriving carrying 140 supporters of terrorism.”
She claimed the activists had come “trying to harm Israel’s sovereignty and break the naval blockade on Gaza”.
“Prison is the place for supporters of terrorism, and of course we will send them back to their home countries,” Regev said.
She also claimed Israeli naval forces had carried out “an excellent operation” in taking control of the flotilla ships “in the middle of the sea”.
“Everyone who gets off here are supporters of terrorism,” Regev added.
Earlier, a video published by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir showed scenes related to the alleged mistreatment of Global Sumud Flotilla activists, who were depicted kneeling with their hands bound and foreheads to the ground, after being detained while attempting to sail towards the Gaza Strip, sparking angry international reactions.
