By Hassen Lorgat
To say this was a surprise or a eureka moment would be an understatement. The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD)—an affiliate member of the South African Zionist Federation, and an organization sometimes described as a civil society or human rights body—has supposedly joined, or rejoined, the community of conscience. It appears that the SAJBD has broken its oath of silence by condemning human rights violations committed by the Israeli regime against other human beings. In a dramatic statement, the SAJBD says it has aligned itself with Israeli leaders (Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Saar) and international bodies in condemning the actions of Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. They criticize Ben-Gvir for his rhetoric and confrontational actions, which they claim are “damaging Israel’s democratic ethos.” The SAJBD condemned Ben-Gvir, who shared on X a video from the Ashdod port detention facility. The footage shows him waving an Israeli flag and taunting handcuffed, kneeling flotilla activists, declaring, “Welcome to Israel. We are the masters here.” The SAJBD called his behavior “inflammatory” and “offensive,” arguing it runs “counter to the democratic ethos of the State of Israel” and damages Israel’s image.
To unravel how and why the seemingly embraced human rights and principles of justice have been undermined, we need to understand the full context of what happened and why.
(image courtesy: https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/16736.html)
The Attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla
The Global Sumud Flotilla (also referred to as the “Freedom Flotilla”) was a humanitarian mission aiming to break the blockade of Gaza, and it faced multiple attacks by the US Navy on May 18 & 19, 2026. They were attacked illegally in international waters off the coast of Cyprus, approximately 250 nautical miles from Gaza. The freedom flotilla, carrying aid with 430 people from over 40 countries, had set sail from Turkey carrying aid, medicines, and food to break the Israeli-imposed strict land, air, and sea blockade of Gaza which has been in place since 2007. The seizure and imprisonment on these boats were horrendous, according to witnesses. It is clear that those states which embolden and reinforce the Israeli regime’s oppression of Palestine were offended. They then demanded that their proxy do the “right thing,” as these violations did not sit well with their domestic audiences.
Adalah, the NGO, reports that detainees faced torture—physical and mental—as well as violence including sexual violence and rape of flotilla members. They say that several activists suffered physical abuse, resulting in “severe, widespread injuries.” Some were hospitalized and later discharged. The lawyers documented dozens of participants with suspected broken ribs and resulting difficulty in breathing. Reports also indicated the frequent use of Tasers against participants, as well as injuries sustained from the use of rubber bullets during the interception. The group said activists were also “subjected to severe degradation and sexual harassment and humiliation.” Freed activists from the flotilla provided detailed testimonies. Organizers report at least 15 cases of sexual assaults, including rape, by Israeli forces during the interception and detention. Accounts include being stripped, groped, and subjected to “sexual taunting.”
Israel, under pressure, has been getting very bad press—more so lately—with most criticism directed at Netanyahu’s cabinet member and ally, Ben-Gvir. It is believed that at least twelve governments have summoned Israeli ambassadors to answer for these crimes. Let us examine some of these responses.
Britain’s foreign minister, Yvette Cooper, said she was “truly appalled” by the video, which she stated “violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity in the way people should be treated.” London also “demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities,” and Cooper added that the Labour government was “in touch with the families of a number of British nationals involved to provide them with consular support.” Canada’s foreign minister, Anita Anand, summoned the Israeli ambassador, stating that the Ben-Gvir video was “deeply troubling and absolutely unacceptable,” that Canadians had been abused, and that those responsible must be held accountable. France called the actions “unacceptable,” while even Italy’s neo-conservative Giorgia Meloni demanded “an apology from Israel.” Turkey stated that the incident “once again openly demonstrated to the world the violent and barbaric mentality of the Netanyahu government.” Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, condemned Ben-Gvir, saying the actions of Israeli authorities were “degrading.” Belgium’s Maxime Prévot called the actions “deeply disturbing” and said, “This situation is unacceptable. It violates the most basic standards of human dignity.” European Council President Antonio Costa said he was “appalled” and that “this behavior is completely unacceptable.” In addition, Poland’s Radosław Sikorski stated: “You may not treat Polish citizens who have committed no crime in this way. In the democratic world we do not abuse and gloat over people in custody.” Even the United States was seemingly appalled; however, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee could not bring himself to condemn Ben-Gvir’s actions without also criticizing the flotilla. He called Ben-Gvir’s actions “despicable” and said they “betrayed the dignity of his nation,” while simultaneously employing the clichéd Zionist line that the aid flotilla was a “stupid publicity stunt.” This is the same Christian Zionist who, in February 2026 on Tucker Carlson’s show, suggested—if not endorsed—Israel’s usurpation of vast stretches of the Middle East on biblical grounds, claiming that according to the Bible, Israel is entitled to “essentially the entire Middle East,” and the ambassador said “it would be fine if it took it all.” Spain, which consistently speaks up for Palestine, condemned the “monstrous” actions of the minister. Ireland’s Helen McEntee said she was “appalled and shocked.” Dr. Margaret Connolly, a medical doctor and sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, was among the activists detained by Israeli forces after the Global Sumud Flotilla was intercepted in international waters; afterwards, she said they were mistreated and humiliated, described the detention as “horrific,” and added that she was held in outdoor containers with a risk of hypothermia.
Ben-Gvir is a long-time occupier of the Kiryat Arba settlement in the occupied West Bank—which is illegal under international law and UN resolutions. In 2007, an Israeli court convicted him on charges that included incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organization, “Kach” and its offshoot “Kahane Chai” (meaning “Kahane Lives”). Ben-Gvir is, or was, a follower of the radical Rabbi Meir Kahane, and it is reported that he previously hung a portrait in his home of Baruch Goldstein, a settler who massacred 29 Palestinian worshippers in Hebron’s Ibrahimi mosque in 1994. Ben-Gvir was first appointed as a cabinet minister by Netanyahu in 2022, and later as head of a newly expanded version of the Public Security portfolio. This coalition is between Netanyahu’s Likud and Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, which is at the center of this row. He briefly left the government in January 2025 as a pressure tactic against the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, but was reappointed as Minister of National Security on March 19, 2025. He subsequently rejoined the cabinet after Israel resumed military operations in Gaza. This man should have been opposed from the get-go—a racist and a supporter of violence, long before he condoned the humiliation and torture of prisoners and detainees. Why was the SAJBD silent?
The Zionist government had a bad week before the Global Sumud Flotilla incidents. First the New York Times published “The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians” by columnist Nicholas Kristof on May 11, 2026. Then, whilst there were other attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla members in late April, this recent case mentioned above occurred a week later: May 18 & 19, 2026.
“The Silence…” details graphic allegations from 14 current and former Palestinian detainees, including claims that Israeli guards used dogs to rape prisoners. It details the widespread and systemic sexual abuse inside Israeli prisons: men, women and children political prisoners face rampant sexual violence including rape with objects (e.g., metal batons), genital beatings leading to amputation, zip-tying of genitals, and even dogs trained to rape prisoners. The abuse is described as normalized, not just isolated incidents. (The sexual abuse of flotilla participants, including rape, indicates that something is rotten in the land where the Zionists rule.) Whilst the Israeli Foreign Ministry dismissed it as “one of the worst blood libels ever to appear in the modern press,” the paper stood its ground. They argued that the column went through “intensive scrutiny and comprehensive fact-checking.” Later, Israeli PM Netanyahu announced Israel will file a defamation lawsuit against the NYT. Former PM Ehud Olmert acknowledged war crimes happen “every day”—although he nuanced some of his responses later. There was no outcry from the SAJBD and others who guide it, here and internationally.
What is more, unlike this uproar, there is generally complete impunity as human rights groups like B’Tselem, Physicians for Human Rights Israel, and the UN have filed hundreds of complaints detailing horrific abuse, yet not a single case has led to charges. One case involving nine reservist soldiers was dropped, with Netanyahu calling the charges a “blood libel.” Lawyers say impunity creates a “green light” for abusers according to the opinion piece. Kristof also highlights how the victims of rape were silenced by threats and social stigma. The Israeli security services, Shin Bet, were the enforcers warning victims/survivors not to speak, warning that speaking could lead to rape or death. Additionally, he reports that societal norms in Palestine and elsewhere discourage reporting because acknowledging rape can harm sisters’/daughters’ marriage prospects. He also writes that this exposure undermines the narrative of heroic detainees or prisoners. The column details that the abuse did not respect age or gender. Boys as young as 15 imprisoned for throwing stones reported routine threats of anal rape with sticks. A female detainee described being repeatedly stripped, beaten, and groped by mixed-gender guard teams; she lost consciousness and isn’t sure if she was raped. Threats were also made against her mother and niece.
It is reported that settlers who commit violence and burn land whilst the police look on were also involved. In the West Bank, Kristof writes that Israeli settlers use sexual violence (e.g., zip-tying a man’s penis, cutting off clothes, threats of rape) to drive Palestinians off their land. Over 70% of displaced households cited sexual threats as the decisive reason for leaving, according to aid groups. Kristof’s piece exposes the global hypocrisy when it comes to rape. He argues that the same international community that “rightly condemned” Hamas’s October 7 sexual atrocities has remained silent on Israel’s “day after day” abuse. As recommendations, he advises action from the U.S. using their influence around arms transfers, and other actions such as resuming Red Cross prison visits, to send a message that sexual violence is unacceptable regardless of the victim’s identity. (About the alleged Hamas rapes on October 7, The Electronic Intifada (January 2025) denies that this took place or that proof is lacking, asserting that “investigations by The Electronic Intifada and other independent publications have consistently demonstrated that the rape claims are unsubstantiated or outright fabrications – atrocity propaganda used to incite and justify Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.”) This hypocrisy extends to mainstream media and leaders who now reject well-researched cases of sexual abuse, yet welcomed a UN report on Hamas raping Israeli women while rejecting the report’s call to investigate Israeli assaults on Palestinians for alleged rape during the attacks on October 7.
Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi blew whistle on earlier rapes (Haaretz)
This hypocrisy extends to mainstream media and leaders who now reject well-researched cases of sexual abuse (the prison service “categorically rejects” them); yet welcomed a so-called UN report. This report about Hamas raping Israeli women while rejecting the report’s call to investigate Israeli assaults on Palestinians for alleged rape during the attacks on Oct. 7. The silence of South African newspapers including the SAJR, that broke this story is also concerning. In addition, other attempts by the likes of the South African Zionist Benji Shulman who sought to trivialize the allegations.
Shulman, this former director of public policy at the SA Zionist Federation, wrote that the report was:
“Attributing nefarious conduct involving animals to Jews is not a new phenomenon in social discourse. To this day, Germany still contains antisemitic carvings from the 13th century depicting degrading imagery involving Jews and pigs, despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that pigs are considered unclean in Judaism. Comparing Jews to rats was also a staple of Nazi propaganda.”
The response came from Mehdi Hassan who wrote on X that “as much as people might want to dispute or challenge the claims of ‘dog rape’ there’s simply no denying the torture that goes on against Palestinians inside of Israeli prisons. It’s been documented by the UN & every major human rights group, including Israeli human rights groups.” It is just another hasbara attempt not to listen to victims and survivors when they are Palestinian. It is confirmation that silence meets the allegations of rape and violence that Kristof speaks about – not a rebuttal.
We would be failing by not speaking of Palestinian prisoners and their conditions as they have told the world. This year, on April 17, whilst marking Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, they reported a sharp escalation in Israeli violations under the far-right government, driven by incitement from figures like Ben-Gvir. According to the website of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, as of April 2023, approximately 4,900 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, including: 31 women; 160 minors; and over 1,000 administrative detainees. Key abuses include: systematic medical negligence (700 sick detainees, 24 with cancer); solitary confinement (35 detainees); record-high administrative detention orders (over 860 since early 2023). Since the start of 2023, some 2,300 arrests have been recorded, including 350 minors and 40 women, with Jerusalem witnessing the highest rates. At least 236 detainees have died in captivity since 1967, and 12 martyrs’ remains are still withheld. Despite recent protests forcing a partial retreat on some prison conditions, institutions warn that abusive policies remain entrenched and call on global human rights organizations to provide international protection and take deterrent action against Israel’s ongoing crimes.
https://addameer.ps/sites/default/files/publications/WomensDayReport2026_ENG.pdf
A year ago (April 2025), the Palestinian Prisoners Society already proclaimed that Ben-Gvir’s remarks on X were confessions of human rights violations and torture that warranted that he be hauled before international courts of justice. In his post on X, Ben-Gvir wrote: “No deposits, no canteens, fifteen-minute shower (instead of 8 hours), one hour for yard. There are no large refrigerators. We have narrowed down the menu. No prisoner representation, no education, no dental care. There are no aesthetic treatments.” He had a bad track record preceding 2025 and the recent treatment of Freedom Flotilla detainees. On July 31, 2024, he said in a widely shared video: “We should shoot Palestinian prisoners in the head instead of giving them more food.” Then there were over 9,500 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, including more than 350 children, 22 women, and 3,405 administrative detainees, according to Palestinian figures. The Prisoners Society spokesperson Najjar said that Ben-Gvir’s measures have led to the deaths of dozens of prisoners and detainees, providing “sufficient evidence” to bring Ben-Gvir before international courts.
More recently, repression inside Israeli prisons has also impacted women prisoners differently—which for some reason has not warranted even a small outcry from these countries. A March 2026 report by Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association documents systemic sexual and gender‑based violence against Palestinian women in Israeli prisons. The report is based on direct testimonies of former detainees released in the 2025 hostage/prisoner exchange. The findings have always been there and include reporting on sexual assault and threats. Women reported invasive strip searches accompanied by verbal sexual insults, forced gynaecological examinations without consent, and direct threats of rape. One detainee testified: “They told me, ‘You will give birth in prison, and we will take your baby. You are nothing.'” But the world looked away. The evidence is documented by Palestinian institutions themselves—from the Palestinian Prisoners Society to Addameer. The testimonies are direct, repeated, and consistent. The violations are not isolated incidents but appear systemic, escalating under official incitement.
Conclusions
In short, not all victims are treated equally by Israel and the Western media and thus it is not surprising that our comrades on the Flotilla warranted some heightened coverage. Palestinians who speak of violations are systematically ignored, yet the SAJBD chose to condemn only the public humiliation of detainees while remaining silent about far graver crimes. The SAJBD’s parent body, the SAZF, states it “looks after matters relating to Israel and its image in South Africa,” which undermines the SAJBD’s objections about Israel’s “democratic ethos.” Israel is accused by many countries of genocide at the ICJ, and the systematic rape of prisoners and starvation of Gazans are far graver crimes that demand a genuine response. The SAJBD performed a fake response after Netanyahu distanced himself from Ben-Gvir. In their words: Prime Minister Netanyahu distanced himself from Ben-Gvir’s behavior, calling it “not in line with Israel’s values and norms,” while Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Ben-Gvir of knowingly harming the state with a “disgraceful display.”
If the humiliation of detainees is unacceptable, how much more so is the rape of Palestinians? To ignore severe violations while claiming outrage over lesser ones is selective justice. The SAJBD must condemn the rape of prisoners and stop pretending to speak only when Netanyahu gives the nod—the very person who is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity.