Gaza flotilla: 'I could not stay silent', says activist who shouted at Ben-Gvir

The Irish activist who shouted "free, free, Palestine" as an Israeli politician walked by her in a detention facility said in that moment she could not stay silent. Catriona Graham was one of hundreds of activists who were detained by Israel this week while trying to deliver aid to Palestinians in Gaza by boat. Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir later posted a video showing himself taunting the activists as they kneeled with their hands tied behind their backs. At the start of the video, which has received widespread condemnation, he can be seen encouraging security personnel as they push down Graham after her exclamation. "I was part of the 2025 flotilla as well," Graham told Irish broadcaster RTÉ. "That time as well, he passed through and tried to insult many of us, just as he does to so many Palestinian prisoners in much more vicious ways. "So when I saw him coming, when I saw him passing by, knowing the horrific crimes that he has committed, I could not stay silent." In a statement on his X account, the Taoiseach (Irish prime minster) Micheál Martin said he was "appalled at the shocking behaviour" of Ben-Gvir. Speaking after a meeting with French Pres