JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Wednesday publicly rebuked National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over a video showing the provocative handling of alleged terror supporters detained at an Israeli facility, calling it a “disgraceful spectacle” that harms the country.

Sa’ar accused Ben-Gvir of deliberately undermining coordinated professional efforts by IDF soldiers, Foreign Ministry staff and others managing such incidents.

“You have knowingly caused damage to the state in this disgraceful spectacle — and not for the first time,” Sa’ar said in a statement. “You have squandered the enormous professional and successful efforts made by many, many people, from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry employees and many more good people. No, you are not the face of Israel.”

The rebuke highlights deepening tensions within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government coalition between more moderate figures and hard-line ministers like Ben-Gvir.

The video in question, released by Ben-Gvir’s office, shows him touring the Port of Ashdod where activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla are being held. The detainees appear bound and blindfolded on the floor as Ben-Gvir walks among them, reportedly shouting comments such as “Welcome to Israel, we are the hosts here.”

Ben-Gvir pushed back against the criticism, saying some in the government still do not understand how to treat terror supporters.

“The Foreign Minister of Israel is expected to understand that Israel has stopped being a punching bag,” he responded. “Whoever comes to our territory to support terror and identify with Hamas will get hit, and we will not turn the other cheek.”

Sa’ar has repeatedly distanced the government’s official diplomatic approach from Ben-Gvir’s more confrontational style, emphasizing that the far-right minister does not represent Israel’s image or policy on the international stage.

The incident comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Israel’s handling of pro-Palestinian activists attempting to reach Gaza by sea. Ben-Gvir, who oversees national security and policing, has long advocated for a tough stance against those he describes as terror supporters.