When Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video of himself taunting detained Gaza flotilla activists prior to their deportation, European nations jumped at the opportunity to condemn Israel and impose sanctions on Ben-Gvir.

But just days later, those same activists were brutalized by Spanish police after causing a disturbance while passing through the airport in Bilbao. Remarkably, the same European governments that had so energetically censured Israel over Ben-Gvir’s lesser offense now had nothing to offer.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry called out the double standard in a social media post mockingly demanding an explanation from Madrid over the treatment of the Hamas-supporting flotilla members.

We demand an explanation from the Spanish government regarding its treatment of the flotilla anarchists pic.twitter.com/k2bbkKq7tm

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) May 23, 2026

The activists reportedly attempted to block an arrivals gate upon their return, prompting local police in Bilbao to aggressively detain and remove them from the terminal.

Other members of the flotilla similarly caused a ruckus at an airport in Greece, though police there did not act to remove them from the scene.

The flotilla anarchists bring provocation and chaos everywhere.
Here they are in Greece. pic.twitter.com/9KV3o49BeU

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) May 23, 2026

Israel’s Foreign Ministry noted that “the flotilla anarchists bring provocation and chaos everywhere,” adding that they were “not peace activists.”

The latest Gaza “freedom” flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters on May 18 and 19. Some 350 participants were briefly held in Israel and then deported.

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