Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at an Israeli minister’s treatment of detained foreign activists, joint Russian-Belarusian nuclear drills, and Pakistan sending one of its top mediators to Iran.

‘Harassment and Humiliation’

Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ignited widespread outrage this week when he posted a video to social media showing himself taunting detained activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. The incident sparked rare condemnation from within Israel and prompted several foreign governments to demand punitive measures.

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at an Israeli minister’s treatment of detained foreign activists, joint Russian-Belarusian nuclear drills, and Pakistan sending one of its top mediators to Iran.

‘Harassment and Humiliation’

Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ignited widespread outrage this week when he posted a video to social media showing himself taunting detained activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. The incident sparked rare condemnation from within Israel and prompted several foreign governments to demand punitive measures.

Earlier this week, the Israeli Navy intercepted more than 40 aid-carrying vessels bound for Gaza. The Israeli Foreign Ministry accused the Global Sumud Flotilla of being a publicity stunt that aims to “serve Hamas” and said that seizing the vessels was necessary to uphold Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, which has been in place since 2007.

The seizures alone triggered heavy condemnation, with foreign leaders arguing that Israel has no jurisdiction in international waters; the Global Sumud Flotilla was in the eastern Mediterranean Sea (roughly 250 nautical miles from Gaza) when it was apprehended. But Ben-Gvir’s actions on Wednesday spurred further outrage, with even some of Israel’s closest allies expressing shock at his behavior.

In the video, detained activists are seen kneeling on the floor with their hands tied and their foreheads pressed to the ground. Ben-Gvir stands above them, waving an Israeli flag and taunting the individuals, shouting, “Welcome to Israel! We are the landlords!” He later wrote on X, “This is how we welcome terror supporters.”

Since then, several people on the flotilla have detailed their treatment by Israeli soldiers. “They kicked me in the legs and punched me in the face,” said Alessandro Mantovani, an Italian journalist who was one of the roughly 430........

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