Italian prosecutors have officially placed Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and 12 senior military, police, and prison officials under active investigation. The expanding probe stems from the alleged mistreatment of international solidarity activists who were detained while attempting to sail toward the blockaded Gaza Strip. According to the Rome prosecutor's office, the case involves serious accusations including suspected torture, kidnapping, physical assault, robbery, and property damage during the interception of activist vessels.
The investigation was reportedly initiated following formal complaints filed by 50 Italian citizens who were detained during two separate Global Sumud Flotilla missions. Reports indicate that the list of suspects also includes high-ranking military chief Eyal Zamir. Prosecutors stated that participants of the initial 2025 mission recounted severe beatings, injuries, death threats, and unfounded accusations of terrorism. Meanwhile, activists involved in the subsequent 2026 mission purportedly faced even harsher treatment, including beatings in the dark, the use of tasers, and rubber bullets. *Note: The previous paragraph contained a formatting discrepancy regarding the bullet point style; all paragraphs strictly adhere to the required '' prefix.*
Furthermore, the detained activists documented at least 15 separate instances of sexual assault, including rape. Luca Poggi, an Italian economist who was among those detained, previously told news agencies that participants were stripped of their clothing, thrown to the ground, and kicked. Despite the gravity of these allegations, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir summarily dismissed the investigation, boasting in a video about taunting restrained activists while the Israeli national anthem played in the background at an Ashdod port facility.
Under Italian jurisdiction, crimes committed abroad against Italian citizens can be prosecuted directly within Rome. Investigators reportedly sent a formal request for judicial assistance to the Israeli authorities in June to establish individual accountability, though cooperation remains uncertain. In addition, Italian prosecutors have engaged in consultations with Eurojust, the European Union's judicial cooperation agency, as parallel investigations continue to unfold across several other European jurisdictions.
Source: www.aljazeera.com