01:04Will Europe ban Ben-Gir?
01:07That is question is being asked after a new diplomatic storm is exploding around Israel
01:13after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gir posted a controversial video
01:20mocking detained pro-Palestine activists from the so-called Global Sumud Flotilla.
01:26And now Europe is hitting back hard.
01:29The footage shows dozens of activists kneeling on a ship deck with their hands zip-tied behind
01:36their backs after Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla, attempting to reach Gaza.
01:42Ben-Gir walks among them, waving a large Israeli flag, while Israel's national anthem plays
01:47in the background.
01:49Then came the line that ignited outrage across Europe.
01:53We are the landlords.
01:55We are the owners of this house.
01:56In another moment, an activist shouts Free Palestine before being pushed down by security
02:03personnel.
02:04Ben-Gir mocks the detainees, saying they arrived full of pride like big heroes, and tells Prime
02:10Minister Netanyahu to keep them locked up for a long time.
02:14Within hours, the video exploded online.
02:17Critics called it degrading, humiliating, and dangerous optics for Israel, at a time of
02:23growing global scrutiny over Gaza.
02:25Italy reacted strongly, because several Italian citizens were reportedly among those detained.
02:31Prime Minister Georgia Maloney's government formally asked the European Union to discuss
02:36sanctions against Ben-Gir.
02:38Italy also summoned the Israeli ambassador, calling the treatment of activists unacceptable
02:42and a violation of basic human rights.
02:45And the backlash did not stop there.
02:48France, the UK, Canada, Australia, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands all condemned the
02:54video and demanded explanations from Israel.
02:57The controversy has now become a major diplomatic headache for the Netanyahu government.
03:02Even inside Israel, there is visible anger.
03:05Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rebuked Ben-Gir, saying Israel had every right to stop
03:11what he called provocative flotillas, but added that the minister's conduct did not reflect
03:16Israel's values and norms.
03:18Foreign Minister Gideon Saar went even further.
03:21He accused Ben-Gir of damaging Israel's international standing and undermining the work of diplomats
03:27and soldiers.
03:28But Ben-Gir is refusing to back down.
03:31For his supporters, this was a display of strength against activists they see as deliberately provoking
03:36Israel and indirectly supporting Hamas-linked narratives after the October 7 attacks.
03:41For critics, however, the images of restrained activists being mocked by a senior Israeli minister
03:47have become symbolic of something much bigger.
03:50A clash between security and human rights.
03:53Power and perception.
03:55And increasingly, Europe versus Ben-Gir.
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