Senators call on State Department to deny visa to Israeli official caught on video taunting zip-tied detainees from the Global Sumud Flotilla

WASHINGTON – Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the Department of State to bar Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the United States after he publicly taunted and humiliated detained human rights activists.

On May 20th, Minister Ben-Gvir released videos of himself at a detention site where activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla were being held after Israel intercepted the vessel. In the footage, detainees are shown kneeling in rows with their hands zip-tied behind their backs while Ben-Gvir personally confronted and taunted them. His conduct drew public rebukes from both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

“Foreign officials who publicly degrade, intimidate, or encourage the mistreatment of detained civilians should not be welcomed on American soil,” the senators wrote.“Upholding the humane treatment of detainees, protecting civilians and humanitarian actors, and opposing the public humiliation of people in custody are core American principles.”

The senators argued that the United States cannot credibly defend human rights abroad while extending the privilege of entry to officials who publicly abuse detainees. “The U.S.-Israel relationship does not require silence in the face of humiliation of detainees or conduct that undermines basic human dignity,” the senators wrote. “Denying Minister Ben-Gvir a U.S. visa would send a clear and necessary message: individuals who abuse public office to degrade detained civilians should not be granted the privilege of entry into the United States.”

The letter asks the State Department to respond by June 12th with answers on whether it has reviewed Ben-Gvir’s conduct for potential visa ineligibility, whether any U.S. citizens or green card holders detained in connection with the flotilla interception have been reviewed, and what steps the Department is taking to ensure Americans engaged in humanitarian activity abroad are treated safely and with dignity.

Read the full letter here.