Italy Investigates Israeli Defense Minister Over Gaza Flotilla Abuse Allegations
“I will continue to stand proudly alongside our fighters,” far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said.
Italy has expanded a criminal probe into the alleged torture and sexual abuse of activists from Gaza-bound aid flotillas to include Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and twelve other high-ranking military, police, and prison officials. The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that the ongoing investigation now targets top leadership over actions taken during maritime interceptions in international waters.
Rome Prosecutor Office Targets Naval Interceptions and Detainee Abuses
The widening inquiry stems from operations in October 2025 and May 2026, when Israeli forces intercepted dozens of yachts attempting to breach the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. More than 800 international volunteers were arrested during these missions and held in detention before deportation. The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office stated on Friday that the case involves suspected torture, kidnapping, personal injury, robbery, and property damage.
The investigation initially focused on National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after roughly 50 Italian nationals belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla missions reported mistreatment. Those complaints detailed at least 15 separate instances of sexual abuse and rape inside Israeli detention facilities. Participants from the later missions described increasingly severe conditions, including beatings in the dark, physical injuries, death threats, insults, and the use of tasers and rubber bullets.
Italian law permits Rome to prosecute crimes committed abroad against Italian citizens. If prosecutors determine the gathered evidence warrants formal charges, the state could request an official trial for the named Israeli officials. Judicial authorities in France have initiated a similar inquiry into the treatment of their own citizens during the maritime interceptions.
Israel Defends Blockade and Denies Abuse Allegations
Israeli authorities have consistently denied allegations of abuse, maintaining that all detainees were handled in accordance with the law with full respect for basic rights. West Jerusalem characterizes the flotilla attempts as political provocations designed to support the Palestinian armed group Hamas. Officials argue that the naval blockade remains a vital security measure required to stop weapons from entering the enclave.
Israel also rejects claims that it withholds humanitarian supplies from the Gaza Strip, where United Nations figures show nearly two million residents have been displaced since the broader conflict began in October 2023. The military campaign followed a Hamas-led incursion in October 2023 that resulted in 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 250 hostages. Subsequent Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have killed more than 74,000 Palestinians—including at least 21,000 children—according to the local health ministry, with over 1,500 fatalities occurring despite a US-brokered ceasefire that took effect in October 2025.
Israeli Officials Remain Silent on Judicial Requests
Neither Defense Minister Israel Katz nor Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir, who is also named in the expanded probe, have issued public comments regarding the developments. Italian prosecutors reported transmitting a formal request for judicial assistance to Israel in June, though it remains unknown whether West Jerusalem has provided a response.