French activists who took half in a Gaza-bound international assist flotilla accuse Israeli forces of abuse and torture.
Printed On 5 Jun 2026
French anti-terrorism prosecutors say they’ve opened a preliminary investigation into suspected “torture” and “struggle crimes” over Israel’s alleged mistreatment of French activists who took half in a Gaza-bound assist flotilla final month.
The probe was opened on Friday following a referral from the foreign ministry late final month, mentioned the nationwide counterterrorism prosecutor’s workplace (PNAT), after activists on the International Sumud Flotilla accused Israeli authorities of extreme mistreatment throughout their detention.
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Israel kidnapped and detained some 430 activists from about 40 international locations after intercepting them in worldwide waters on Might 18 as they made the most recent in a string of makes an attempt to interrupt the blockade on Gaza, which the United Nations and human rights organisations say is prohibited, describing it as a type of collective punishment.
Israeli far-right Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attracted widespread condemnation after he posted a video mocking the flotilla activists whereas they have been sure.
France banned Ben-Gvir from entry and, like a number of different allies of Israel, summoned the Israeli ambassador over the incident.
A number of French activists described what they mentioned was a violent and humiliating ordeal when eight of them returned to France on Might 22.
Two of the greater than 30 French individuals who have been on board the flotilla have been nonetheless hospitalised in Turkiye, they advised reporters.
One returnee described a soldier groping and slapping her in a darkish container, and being terrified that she can be raped.
One other recounted detained activists being put in what she known as a “stress place”, on their knees with their foreheads on the bottom for a number of hours, whereas the Israeli nationwide anthem performed on repeat.
‘Most extreme case of ill-treatment’ in a decade
Chatting with Al Jazeera late final month, Suhad Bishara, authorized director at Adalah, the Israeli authorized centre for Palestinian rights, mentioned that with out accountability, Israel will proceed to make use of violence towards activists.
“Primarily based on accounts obtained, and drawing on over a decade of representing flotilla individuals, this seems to be probably the most extreme case of ill-treatment documented prior to now 10 years, doubtlessly amounting to torture,” mentioned Bishara.
Adalah attorneys have been knowledgeable of repeated bodily violence leading to severe accidents, extended stress positions, and sexual humiliation and harassment.
The International Sumud Flotilla mentioned it has documented at the very least 15 circumstances of sexual abuse.
Legal professionals for French flotilla activists have mentioned they plan to file a separate criticism on behalf of their shoppers over allegations of rape, torture and humiliation.
The activists have refused to satisfy with the French authorities to debate their experiences, accusing it of supporting Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
Requested by the AFP information company to reply to the claims of mistreatment, the Israeli jail service mentioned the accusations have been “solely with out factual foundation”.
Francesca Albanese, an outspoken UN knowledgeable on the Palestinian territory, has mentioned the remedy of the flotilla activists “is a luxurious in contrast to what’s inflicted on Palestinians in Israeli prisons”.
