Italy probes Israel’s Katz over abuse, sexual assault of flotilla activists

Italian prosecutors have placed Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and 12 senior military, police and prison authorities under investigation over the treatment of activists detained on Gaza-bound solidarity boats, widening a probe that had centred on far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Key points

• The first Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Barcelona in September 2025 with 42 boats and 462 activists.
• It opened the investigation after complaints from 50 Italian citizens who were detained after two Global Sumud Flotilla missions last year and this year.
• Prosecutors remarked activists detained after the first mission in 2025 noted beatings, injuries, death threats, insults and accusations of terrorism.
• Luca Poggi, an Italian economist who was detained, informed Reuters news agency in May: "We were stripped, thrown to the ground, kicked."
• The second mission left Barcelona in April 2026.

For context, the Rome prosecutors' office remarked on Friday that the case worries suspected torture, kidnapping, personal injury, robbery and damage when Israeli forces intercepted small fleets of activist boats heading towards Gaza in 2025 and 2026.

It opened the investigation after complaints from 50 Italian citizens who were detained after two Global Sumud Flotilla missions last year and this year. Those named as suspects include Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir.

Prosecutors remarked activists detained after the first mission in 2025 noted beatings, injuries, death threats, insults and accusations of terrorism. Those on the second mission in 2026 documented harsher treatment, including beatings in the dark and the apply of tasers and rubber bullets, the statement noted.

In practice, the activists documented at least 15 cases of sexual assault, including rape.

Ben-Gvir dismissed news of the investigation in June, saying he would "continue to stand proudly alongside" Israeli soldiers.

Flotilla organisers say they aim to break Israel's blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid. What prompted the case.

For context, the first Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Barcelona in September 2025 with 42 boats and 462 activists. Israeli forces intercepted it in international waters in early October that year, with hundreds detained and afterwards deported.

Notably, the second mission left Barcelona in April 2026. Israeli forces began intercepting its vessels near the southern Greek island of Crete on April 30, and by May 19 had detained regarding 430 residents on some 50 ships in international waters, with the final interceptions taking place off Cyprus.

Ben-Gvir afterwards posted a video showing him taunting activists who were cable-tied and kneeling at a makeshift prison at the port of Ashdod while Israel's national anthem played.

Prosecutors remarked they sent Israel a request for judicial assistance in June, seeking information to reconstruct events and establish individual responsibility, but did not say whether Israel had responded.

As other similar investigations are under way in other European countries, they additionally held negotiations at Eurojust, the EU's judicial cooperation agency.

Under Italian law, crimes committed abroad against Italian citizens can be prosecuted in Rome.

If the investigation finds the charges warranted, prosecutors could formally request a trial.

For now, italy probes Israel's Katz over abuse, sexual assault of flotilla activists remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.