Online footage of Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mocking illegally detained flotilla campaigners has been slammed by Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson.
Senator Stephenson said:
“It is disgusting, but hardly surprising, to see such appalling behaviour from Minister Ben-Gvir, who embodies everything that is wrong about this terror state right-wing government – a government that has overseen the massacre of more than 60,000 Palestinians in the space of two years.
“Using his time to personally denigrate volunteers who are attempting to break the illegal humanitarian blockade is despicable behaviour.
“Given that Irish protesters were most likely among those at the receiving end of his abusive tirade – during which he branded flotilla campaigners as supporters of murderers and terrorists – the Irish government must strongly protest this slur on our citizens.
“These people are being illegally detained by the IDF, having been kidnapped from international waters.
“The EU must now expedite proposals to sanction extremist Israeli politicians such as Ben-Gvir, who continues to push his hateful and dangerous narrative as his government presides over a genocide.”
October 3, 2025