Foreign Minister Penny Wong has led a chorus of condemnation towards a far-right Israeli minister after he shared a video taunting a group of prisoners, which could include Australians.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's national security minister, shared a video on his X account that showed him touring a facility where a group of pro-Palestine protesters was detained after being part of the Gaza flotilla group intercepted by Israel earlier this week.
Up to 11 Australians are part of the 430 protesters Israel seized from boats.
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The video, titled 'Welcome to Israel', showed officers grabbing and throwing a woman to the floor after she yelled, "free, free Palestine", and showed several shots of many prisoners handcuffed and being forced to kneel on the ground with their foreheads on the floor.
At one point, Ben-Gvir yells in Hebrew, "welcome to Israel, we are your landlords!" while waving an Israeli flag.
In another video, Ben-Gvir says the activists "came here all full of pride like big heroes. Look at them now", while appealing to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to grant him permission to imprison them.
Wong criticised Ben-Gvir's actions, and expressed concern over the treatment of the Australians.
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"The images we have seen are shocking and unacceptable," she said in a statement.
"We condemn the actions of Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir – who Australia has sanctioned – and the degrading actions of Israeli authorities towards those detained."
She said she had instructed Australia's ambassador to Israel to ensure that Australian prisoners are not on the receiving end of mistreatment by Israeli forces.
Ben-Gvir's actions have been met with condemnation from across the globe, including from the United States, with ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee claiming Ben-Gvir, "betrayed [the] dignity of his nation" with his "despicable actions."
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Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also issued a rebuke of Ben-Gvir after the video went public.
"The way that Minister Ben Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists is not in line with Israel's values and norms," his office said in a statement shared on social media.
However, he also insisted Israel has the right to detain the protesters, saying he had "instructed the relevant authorities to deport the provocateurs as soon as possible."
Reported with Associated Press
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