Gaza flotilla activists to be deported as governments voice outrage over taunting by Israeli minister

JERUSALEM, May 21 (Reuters) – Western governments voiced outrage on Thursday after Israel’s far-right security minister posted a video of himself taunting Gaza-bound flotilla activists being pinned to the ground, with two ​later alleging they were physically assaulted in detention.

The activists’ treatment by police officers under the direction of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also drew a rebuke from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin ‌Netanyahu and from the United States, Israel’s staunchest ally.

The activists, whose vessel was intercepted on Wednesday in international waters by Israeli naval forces as they were trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, were all deported from Israel on Thursday, the Israeli foreign ministry said.