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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Natalie Melzer and Menelaos Hadjicostis

Israeli security minister tells detained flotilla activists they should be jailed for a long time

Israel Politics - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Detained activists from a flotilla of boats that tried to get past Israel's blockade of Gaza arrived in the port city of Ashdod aboard Israeli naval ships on Wednesday, as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told them that they should remain in prison for a “long, long time.”

Video released by Ben-Gvir showed the minister walking among some of the approximately 430 detained activists flanked by police and soldiers as he waved a large Israeli flag and told them “Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords.” One handcuffed activist shown in the video shouting “Free Palestine” as Ben-Gvir was walking past was immediately pushed to the ground by security personnel.

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