Minister Ben-Gvir Named Suspect in Kidnapping and Torture Case of Flotilla Activists

The Rome prosecutor’s office has added the name of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the suspect register in an investigation into alleged torture and war crimes against activists from the pro-Palestinian flotilla Sumud. Italian newspaper la Repubblica reported on Monday that the investigation was opened several weeks ago after Israeli authorities detained the flotilla activists, including a number of Italian citizens. According to the report, the plaintiffs’ lawyers are accusing individuals of possible criminal offences, including kidnapping, torture, sexual violence, robbery, and actions that could potentially cause a shipwreck. The Sumud Flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip, sailed from Barcelona on 15 April. On 18 May, the flotilla organisers stated their vessel was surrounded and forcibly intercepted by Israeli warships in international waters, approximately 250 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. All flotilla participants were subsequently detained before eventually being deported from Israel. On 20 May, Itamar Ben-Gvir uploaded a video showing Israeli forces forcing the detained activists face-down and binding them. The flotilla organisers subsequently reported that around 30 activists sustained bone fractures and accused Israeli forces of sexually abusing the participants. Meanwhile, Jean-Noel Barrot stated on 23 May that France had banned Ben-Gvir from entering the country.