Ben-Gvir slams Netanyahu for not imprisoning Gaza flotilla activists

‘Israeli’ National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to deport international activists who were aboard the Sumud Flotilla, calling the move a “grave mistake.”

Ben-Gvir argued that deporting the activists only encourages repeated attempts to break the siege on Gaza.

החלטת ראש הממשלה לאפשר לתומכי הטרור שבמשט לחזור לארצותיהם - בטעות יסודה.

אני חושב שחייבים להשאיר אותם כמה חודשים כאן בכלא הישראלי, כדי שהם יריחו את הריח של אגף המחבלים.

הרי לא יכול להיות מצב שבו ראש הממשלה שולח אותם עוד פעם ועוד פעם ועוד פעם לארצותיהם - והשליחה הזו גורמת לכך… pic.twitter.com/2jnz04QwZ5

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) October 3, 2025

“The Prime Minister's decision to allow the terror supporters from the flotilla to return to their countries – its foundation is a mistake,” he said.

The far-right minister insisted that the activists should have been imprisoned instead of deported.

“I think they must be kept here in an Israeli prison for a few months, so they can smell the scent of the terrorists' wing,” Ben-Gvir said.

He warned that Netanyahu’s policy of deporting the activists “again and again and again” only guarantees they will keep coming back.