Israel’s Ben-Gvir Calls to Designate Gaza Flotilla Volunteers as Terrorists
National Security Minister proposes harsh detention measures for activists trying to deliver aid to Gaza.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has announced plans to label all volunteers involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla as “terrorists” and arrest them if they attempt to reach Gaza. The proposal, presented during a government meeting including Prime Minister Netanyahu and top security officials, aims to prevent the flotilla from delivering humanitarian aid to the two million Palestinians trapped under blockade and facing severe shortages.
Under Ben-Gvir’s plan, detained activists would be held in Israel’s Ketziot and Damon prisons, facilities usually reserved for terrorist prisoners, with strict confinement conditions and denial of privileges like television and radio. Ben-Gvir, who has a prior conviction for incitement, emphasized that those supporting terrorism must face serious consequences. The vessels of the flotilla are also planned to be seized by Israeli authorities.
Representatives of the flotilla maintain the mission is peaceful and lawful, aimed solely at breaking the blockade to provide aid to civilians suffering in Gaza. The tension highlights the escalating political and humanitarian conflicts surrounding the Gaza crisis.
Source: Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera
