Outrage over Israel’s Ben-Gvir flotilla abuse video: What we know

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has posted a video of himself taunting foreign activists abducted from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla at a makeshift holding pen in Israel’s city of Ashdod. The activists, abducted by Israeli forces in international waters, are seen cable-tied and kneeling while Israel’s national anthem blares in the video, which was released on Wednesday. Recommended Stories list of 4 items end of list Several countries, including Italy and France, have summoned Israeli ambassadors to explain the stunt. As well as a global backlash, the video has even been met with sharp rebukes from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and staunch ally, United States ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. We break down what we know so far. Who is Ben-Gvir? The 50-year-old lawyer and politician has led the far-right Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) party in Israel since 2019. He was sworn into the cabinet after the 2022 elections. He was later appointed as national security minister and given control of Israel’s Border Police division in the occupied West Bank. …