Ben-Gvir plans to designate Global Sumud Flotilla activists as terrorists, seize boats
Activists will be held in prisons for terrorists and will be denied special privileges such as television, radio, and specialized food.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir presented a plan to the cabinet aimed at halting the largest flotilla ever planned to sail to Gaza, comprising 50 ships with activists from 44 countries.
Ben-Gvir presented the plan at a discussion on Sunday regarding steps to stop the flotilla, attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
Ben-Gvir emphasized that the flotilla, despite its claimed humanitarian intentions, would be regarded as an attempt to undermine Israel's sovereignty and support Hamas in Gaza.
"The proposed plan lays out measures, reinforcing Israel's unwavering position in safeguarding its borders and ensuring national security", he stated.
Under the new suggested directive, all activists arrested in connection with the flotilla will be detained in Israel’s Ketziot and Damon prisons, which are used to hold terrorists under stringent conditions typically reserved for security prisoners.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg departs on the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian expedition to Gaza, from the port of Barcelona, Spain August 31, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/NACHO DOCE)Activists to be held in terrorist prisons
The activists will be held in prolonged detention, unlike the previous practice of releasing detainees after brief overnight stays. Activists will be denied special privileges such as television, radio, and specialized food, in an effort to impose a clear message that supporting terrorism will not be tolerated.“We will not allow individuals who support terrorism to live in comfort. They will face the full consequences of their actions,” Ben-Gvir said.
In a move to prevent any further efforts to disrupt Israel’s security, Ben-Gvir suggested that all ships participating in the flotilla will be confiscated and repurposed for use by Israeli law enforcement. The seizure would be fully legal, since the government believes that the flotilla is not only a political act but an illegal attempt to bypass the blockade.
In his public statements following the meeting, Ben-Gvir stressed that Israel would not tolerate “soft arrests” or quiet returns of flotilla participants.
"We must create a clear deterrent. Anyone who chooses to collaborate with Hamas and support terrorism will meet a firm and unyielding response from Israel,” he said. Ben-Gvir pointed out that after spending weeks in detention under harsh conditions, supporters of terror would think twice before attempting another such flotilla.
He also stressed that these measures were part of Israel’s broader effort to maintain national security and prevent any further escalation.
"The Israeli Navy and law enforcement are fully prepared to address any security threats that arise,” Ben-Gvir concluded.
Ben-Gvir’s action plan is expected to face criticism from human rights organizations and some international bodies, who may argue that the detention conditions violate international law. However, Israeli officials have argued that the flotillas are not merely acts of political _expression_ but direct attempts to assist a designated terrorist organization that seeks to undermine Israel’s right to exist.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail on Sunday from Barcelona, will be the fourth attempt to break the maritime blockade on Gaza so far this year. "It is the largest attempt yet to break the long-standing Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory by sea", say the organizers.
Among the crew of the flotilla is Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who has said that "little by little every day people are waking up to this genocide" and criticises the world's silence in the face of Israel's disregard for international law.
Irish actor Liam Cunningham, known for his role in Games of Thrones, will also take part. In a news conference before the departure in Barcelona, Cunningham played a video showing a girl singing while planning her own funeral. The girl, Fatima, died four days ago, he said.
“What sort of world have we slid into where children are making their own funeral arrangements?” the Irish actor told reporters.