Austrian police restrain, arrest returning Gaza flotilla activist

Austrian police are filmed restraining and arresting a returning Gaza flotilla activist at Vienna Airport.

The incident occurred last night and comes a day after Spanish police were filmed beating returning activists.

Footage from the incident in Austria shows the activist chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a phrase interpreted by many as calling for Israel to be wiped out.

He was then accosted by police who ended up restraining him on the floor and dragging him out of the terminal.

The Austrian police force defended their actions, telling the Daily Mail they used “proportionate force.”

Spanish police on Saturday detained four people at Bilbao airport following clashes that broke out after activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla returned home, according to officials in Spain.

Police were filmed hitting people with batons and dragging them across the floor, before detaining them.

Israel detained the activists as sea before deporting them.

The incident came after National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sparked a diplomatic incident on Wednesday over a video he released showing him taunting the activists as they were forced to kneel on the floor with their hands bound. The video triggered an international outcry, with dozens of countries condemning Israel’s treatment of the detained activists.

An Austrian Flotilla member was just assertively ARRESTED as soon as he landed in Vienna airport. Seems he’s been a very naughty boy. pic.twitter.com/DUxZ0Yl7av

— Heidi Bachram (@HeidiBachram) May 24, 2026