Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted footage this week showing activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla kneeling with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground.

Three New Zealanders were reportedly among hundreds of foreign activists detained during an attempt to break through Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

“We expect Israel to adhere to its international legal obligations, including in its treatment of New Zealanders participating in the flotilla,” Peters said.

“We have instructed MFAT to call in the Israeli ambassador today to directly pass on our grave concerns,” he said, referring to New Zealand’s ministry of foreign affairs and trade.

The video was published after Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla and began detaining hundreds of foreign activists.

Captioned “Welcome to Israel”, the footage shows dozens of activists forced to kneel with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground.

At some points, the Israeli national anthem can be heard playing in the background.

The footage also shows Ben Gvir heckling and waving an Israeli flag among the detained activists.

“Last year, New Zealand placed a travel ban on minister Ben Gvir for severely and deliberately undermining peace and security and removing prospects for a two-state solution,” Peters said.

“His latest conduct with respect to the Gaza flotilla, which has been seriously criticised by his own prime minister, is further vindication of that position.”

New Zealand joins the United States, France, Canada and many other nations strongly condemning the treatment of the activists.