Controversial Israeli Artist Natali Cohen Vaxberg Arrested for Defecating on National Flag

A controversial Israeli artist who posted a video of herself defecating on the country's flag has been placed under house arrest in Tel Aviv for "defiling a national symbol," Israeli police confirmed.

Natali Cohen Vaxberg posted a video online showing herself defecating on a series of national flags, including that of her home country Israel.

The video, titled S**t instead of Blood, shows the artist squatting and defecating on national flags from the United States, the United Kingdom and France among others, as well as the Israeli and Palestinian flags. It features music from the classical composer Chopin.

Police said Vaxberg would be placed under house arrest until Wednesday when she would either be charged or released.

The video was originally posted online on 18 July, 10 days after Israel's government launched its military incursion into Gaza.

More than 2,100 Palestinians were killed during the 50-day conflict with Hamas, the vast majority of whom were civilians. Israel lost 66 soldiers in the fighting and seven Israeli civilians were killed.

Vaxberg courted controversy earlier in the year when she posted a video from Israel's Holocaust museum in Jerusalem.

In that video, she took on the persona of the Holocaust itself and said "I am the Holocaust, the best thing that ever happened to you!"