Israeli National Security Minister Ben-Gvir pays a visit to Tbilisi under international sanctions
The Caucasus region is experiencing changes, and one of the latest developments involves a visit by Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, to Georgia. This visit, which took place in June 2025, was met with protests and diplomatic disagreements, highlighting the complex dynamics of the region's geopolitical landscape.
During his stay, Ben-Gvir was officially accompanied by Georgian government officials, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Interior Minister Gela Geladze. However, the Israeli Embassy raised an eyebrow at Kobakhidze and then-Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili's visit to Tehran in May 2024 for the funeral of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, and later for Kobakhidze's attendance at the inauguration of Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, in Tehran.
Ben-Gvir presented photos of armed Hamas terrorists seizing humanitarian aid trucks in Gaza to Kobakhidze, a move that further strained relations between the two countries. In response, Israel expressed bolder dissatisfaction over the visit of Georgia’s Deputy Interior Minister Alexandre Khvtisiashvili to an event at the Iranian Embassy, which paid tribute to the 'martyrs who died during the Israeli regime's armed attack against Iran's territorial integrity'.
The Georgian government's administration confirmed that Ben-Gvir met with Kobakhidze, but described it as an informal, introductory meeting. Ben-Gvir, however, stated that the Israeli government claims there is no famine or food shortage in Gaza, contradicting a recently published UN report.
The visit of Ben-Gvir to Georgia sparked protests in Tbilisi, with some demonstrators unfurling a giant Palestinian flag in protest. In response, a group of activists unfurled a giant Palestinian flag from the Bridge of Peace in central Tbilisi, stating that any cooperation with Israel means complicity in genocide.
The diplomatic disagreements between Georgia and Israel come at a time when independent journalism in the region is under threat. In June 2025, the UK, along with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, imposed sanctions on Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Yoel Smotrich due to incitements of violence against Palestinian communities.
Amidst these challenges, a newsroom powered by readers is being built to provide unbiased and factual reporting on the events unfolding in the Caucasus region and beyond. As the region continues to evolve, the need for independent and impartial journalism has never been greater.
