Arabic version: انتقادات أمريكية لوزير إسرائيلي بينما تفرض عقوبات على الناشطين
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has become the first official from the administration of President Donald Trump to join global criticism of Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. According to Al Jazeera, this condemnation came shortly after the US Department of the Treasury had sanctioned the flotilla organisers.
Huckabee’s remarks followed a wave of international criticism directed at Ben-Gvir, who had posted a video taunting detained foreign activists from the flotilla. The video, which showed detained activists kneeling on the floor with their hands bound, prompted countries such as Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Canada to summon Israeli ambassadors for explanations. Despite Huckabee’s condemnation, analysts noted that the US response appeared contradictory given the recent sanctions against activists.
Critics have pointed out a perceived double standard in US foreign policy, emphasizing the difference between US actions and those of other Western nations that uphold principles like freedom of navigation in international waters. Rights observers have long documented abuses against Palestinian detainees, yet Israeli authorities have frequently dismissed these accounts as unfounded.
The recent sanctions targeted four organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aims to deliver aid to Gaza and support Palestinian rights. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent labeled the activists as part of a “pro-terror flotilla,” a claim that organisers have vehemently rejected. The sanctions come in a context where previous US administrations, including that of Joe Biden, had ruled out sanctioning Ben-Gvir despite calls from lawmakers regarding his alleged incitement of violence against Palestinians.
Experts argue that the US’s approach continues to embolden Israel’s far-right elements, with the Trump administration’s support fostering a climate of impunity. The juxtaposition of Huckabee’s public condemnation of Ben-Gvir and the sanctions on activists raises questions about the effectiveness of US policy in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
