Israel’s far-right national security minister says deporting activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla is a mistake, arguing they should instead be jailed for several months.

“I think they must be kept here for a few months in an Israeli prison so they get used to the smell of the terrorist wing,” said Itamar Ben-Gvir in a post on X.

By simply returning them to their countries, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu is encouraging them “to return time and time again”, he added.

Earlier, Ben-Gvir appeared on video berating the detained flotilla activists, calling them “terrorists” as they sat on the ground of what appears to be Israel’s Ashdod port.