You are a powerful country facing daily controversy regarding the abrogation of human rights and domestic instability through discrimination from within.

You have waged several wars that have divided the world on your actions.

You hold a wealth of military arms and equipment, enjoy the patronage of the United States (among others) and have a world-class intelligence service.

But wait.

There is a flotilla of boats bobbing across the Mediterranean carrying civilians who disagree with your actions and want to donate food, water and medical supplies to the people you have bombed, denied medical treatment and stigmatised for over 60 years.

What to do?

Why, deploy some homophobia and indulge in a bit of under-water sabotage:

The video, nearly three minutes long, featured a young man who called himself Marc and claimed to be a gay and human rights activist. The man recounted a story in which he asked the organizers of the upcoming Gaza flotilla to join their mission, and claimed that his request was allegedly denied on the grounds that participation of the gay and lesbian group with which he was affiliated would not serve the flotilla’s “interests”.

John Greyson, a Canadian film director and Gaza flotilla activist told Haaretz in an interview that homosexuality is not a barrier to participating in the upcoming voyage, and in fact he and other flotilla participants have created an “unofficial queer caucus” on board the ship.

Greyson, a 51-year-old Canadian who is gay and has directed many films about queer life, said he was shocked when he heard about the video. “At first I laughed, then I got mad, and then laughed again,” Greyson told Haaretz on board the “Tahrir” ship on Tuesday.

Seriously? That’s all you’ve got?

You disappoint.