Beyza Binnur Donmez
21 May 2026•Update: 21 May 2026
The UN human rights office on Thursday condemned Israel’s “outrageous” treatment of activists this week from Gaza-bound aid flotilla vessels, raising concerns over what it described as potentially unlawful arrests and detentions in international waters.
“What this video shows is outrageous,” spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told Anadolu in a statement.
The video in question, posted online by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, shows detained activists zip-tied and forced to kneel after being detained by Israeli forces in international waters.
The Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla said Tuesday that all 50 vessels in its convoy had been seized by Israel following attacks in international waters.
Shamdasani said the office was “worried about the situation in which hundreds of Gaza-bound flotilla activists have been arrested by Israeli forces on board of foreign-flagged vessels in international waters, and held by the Israeli navy, following what appears to be unlawful arrests and detentions.”
'Israel must end its Gaza blockade'
The office also criticized statements by Israeli officials describing peaceful activists as "supporters of terrorism."
“Statements by Israeli officials portraying peaceful activists as supporters of terrorism, repression on the high seas of activists, as well as criminalisation of the delivery of life-saving aid, are unacceptable,” she said.
Shamdasani also called on Israel to lift its blockade and restrictions on humanitarian aid in the besieged Gaza Strip.
“Israel must end its blockade on Gaza and all undue restrictions on humanitarian assistance that remain desperately needed in Gaza,” she said.
Accountability demanded for mistreatment
Criticism of Israel’s handling of the flotilla activists has grown internationally following circulation of the video showing the mistreatment of the activists, particularly from countries whose nationals were among those detained. Several countries summoned Israeli ambassadors or diplomatic representatives over the incident, demanding a public apology and accountability.
With the backlash still fresh, on Thursday over 420 illegally detained activists are being flown to Türkiye.
After being transferred from Israel’s Ketziot Prison to Ramon Airport, the activists, including 78 Turkish nationals, were boarded onto three separate Turkish Airlines aircraft.
The first plane departed for Istanbul following procedures coordinated by Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry, while the remaining flights are also expected to arrive in the Turkish city later Thursday.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that the flotilla activists have been deported from Israel, adding that it would not allow any breach of the “lawful” naval blockade on Gaza.
Although a ceasefire was reached in Gaza on Oct. 10, 2025, humanitarian access has failed to improve in the strip, and deadly Israeli attacks have continued. Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 881 people have been killed and 2,621 injured since the ceasefire took effect.
The agreement was intended to halt Israel’s two-year war on Gaza, which has killed more than 72,000 people, most of them women and children, injured over 172,000 others since October 2023, and caused widespread destruction affecting around 90% of the civilian infrastructure.
