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Images of activists bound and blindfolded hit Israeli image campaign "Hasbara"
A video released by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, in which he appears to mock activists on the flotilla aimed at breaking the Gaza blockade, has caused strong international reactions and, according to analysts, has severely damaged the Israeli public relations campaign, known as "Hasbara."
The footage, published on the X platform, shows Ben-Gvir as activists from the "Global Sumud" flotilla kneel in the port of Ashdod, blindfolded and with their hands tied.
Israeli naval forces had stopped the flotilla's ships in international waters near Cyprus, arresting 430 participants. At least 87 of them are reported to have begun a hunger strike in solidarity with the more than 9,500 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
The images of activists being dragged along the floor prompted several countries, including Italy, France, the Netherlands, Canada and Spain, to summon Israeli ambassadors, condemning their treatment as "unacceptable" and a violation of human dignity.
According to experts, the swift reaction of Israeli authorities, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who ordered the immediate deportation of the activists, is more related to the damage to Israel's international image than to concern about their treatment.
For decades, Israel has relied on "Hasbara," a Hebrew term meaning "explanation," to justify its policies and military operations against the Palestinians in the international arena.
Fathi Nimer, a researcher at the Al-Shabaka network, told Al Jazeera that "Hasbara" functions as state propaganda to "embellish the image of the occupation," adapting different narratives for different audiences around the world.
According to him, due to Israel's increasing isolation after the Gaza war, the budget for "Hasbara" is expected to increase from about $15 million in 2023 to $700 million by 2026.
Analysts say Ben-Gvir's video immediately undermined this narrative. According to them, the main problem for Israeli leaders was not the treatment of activists, but the public broadcast of the footage.
את תומכי הטורור
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 20, 2026
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Academic Mtanes Shehadeh also told Al Jazeera that the video showed the world the "true reality" of Israel, describing structural violence and disregard for human rights as fundamental parts of the current Israeli establishment.
The incident also highlighted contradictions in American policy. The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, criticized Ben-Gvir, saying that the minister "betrayed the dignity of his country," but the criticism focused on the release of the video and not on the treatment of the activists.
A day earlier, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on four organizers of the "Global Sumud" flotilla, describing the humanitarian mission as a "pro-terrorism flotilla" in support of Hamas.
The sanctions affected activists from the organization "Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad" and the "Samidoun" network, which supports Palestinian prisoners.
According to analysts, this shows double standards from the US, which imposes sanctions on Palestinian activists and groups while continuing to protect Israeli far-right figures like Ben-Gvir.
For Palestinians, the images of European and international activists bound and blindfolded represent only a small part of what Palestinian prisoners experience every day.
The secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, Mustafa Barghouti, stated that such scenes reflect the "fascism of the entire Israeli government" and not just Ben-Gvir's.
According to human rights organizations, about 100 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons since October 2023, amid reports of starvation, physical violence, and lack of medical treatment.
Meanwhile, former Vice-President of the European Parliament, Luisa Morgantini, stated that diplomatic reactions are not enough and called for the suspension of agreements with Israel, a ban on arms sales, and support for the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israeli leaders.
The Gaza flotillas began in 2009 in response to Israel's land, sea and air blockade of the Palestinian territory. Despite military bans and US sanctions, they have exposed the limits of Israeli power and accelerated Israel's international isolation, analysts and activists say. / Adapted from "Al Jazeera"
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