Behind Closed Doors: Netanyahu Deports Gaza Flotilla Activists Back to G

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a sharp jab at international activists on Thursday after Israeli naval forces completed the deportation of participants from the latest maritime convoy to Gaza. Speaking shortly after the vessels were redirected and their passengers transferred to Greece, Netanyahu dismissed the activists as "Hamas supporters" who would never set foot on Israeli territory. "Not one Hamas supporter reached our territory," Netanyahu declared, adding a biting remark that "they will continue to see Gaza on YouTube" rather than from the shores of the Strip.

The decision to deport the activists without formal arrests or lengthy detention has caused significant friction within the Israeli government. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir lashed out at Netanyahu and Gideon Sa’ar for the move, claiming the decision was made "in secret" and sends a "message of weakness" to Israel's enemies. Ben Gvir labeled the release of the activists as an "unfortunate decision by the Prime Minister," arguing that those attempting to breach a military blockade should face the full weight of the law rather than being quietly escorted to a neighboring country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended the move as a pragmatic way to end the high-seas standoff without creating a prolonged international incident. Most of the activists were transferred to Greek authorities, effectively ending the most ambitious attempt to break the maritime blockade in recent years. While the government considers the mission a failure for the activists, the internal political debate suggests that the method of their removal remains a point of contention for the more hardline members of the current coalition.

For the residents of Gaza and the activists involved, the result was a complete blockade of their mission objectives. Netanyahu emphasized that the legal blockade remains firm and that Israel will continue to use all necessary means to prevent unauthorized vessels from reaching the coastal enclave. By mocking the activists' reliance on social media to view the region, the Prime Minister signaled that Israel has no intention of allowing these maritime protests to influence its security policy or its management of the ongoing war.