US condemns Ben-Gvir while sanctioning Gaza flotilla organisers
Washington’s simultaneous criticism of Itamar Ben-Gvir and sanctions against flotilla coordinators underscores a governance strategy that analysts describe as inconsistent with international legal norms.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has become the first official from the Trump administration to join global criticism of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, describing the minister’s posting of a video taunting detained Gaza flotilla activists as a betrayal of national dignity. The statement emerged one day after the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned four organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including members of the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad and the Palestinian prisoners’ solidarity network Samidoun.
Huckabee’s comments followed diplomatic actions by Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Canada, which summoned Israeli ambassadors over the video showing detained activists kneeling with bound hands. In a post on X, Huckabee referenced criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Saar, President Isaac Herzog, and Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, stating there was “universal outrage from every high-ranking Israeli official.” He characterised the flotilla attempt as a “stupid stunt” but maintained that Ben-Gvir’s conduct undermined the nation’s standing.
The timing of Huckabee’s condemnation has drawn scrutiny from policy analysts who point to a stark contradiction in US foreign policy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had described the flotilla as a “pro-terror flotilla” supporting Hamas, a claim organisers have rejected. Critics argue that the US government is applying a double standard, condemning the optics of Ben-Gvir’s behaviour while simultaneously penalising the humanitarian efforts of the flotilla supporters.
Michael Omer-Man, the Israel-Palestine director at the DAWN advocacy group, noted a significant divergence between the US approach and that of other Western nations. He argued that countries such as France and the Netherlands view freedom of navigation in international waters as a fundamental concept of international law, whereas the Trump administration appears to accept Israeli arguments that breaking the blockade is illegal. Omer-Man suggested that the US is effectively aligning with Israel’s narrative rather than upholding established maritime norms.
The incident reflects a broader pattern of policy under the Trump administration, which has previously lifted sanctions on violent Israeli settlers while imposing restrictions on Palestinian civil society organisations supporting the International Criminal Court investigation. Annelle Sheline, a research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, described the administration’s rare rebukes as weak gestures that are insignificant against the backdrop of billions of dollars in annual military aid to Israel, suggesting that unconditional support continues to foster impunity.
