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Italy probes Ben-Gvir
Italian prosecutors opened an investigation into far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over the treatment of Italian nationals detained during the interception of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, with ANSA reporting that prosecutors in Rome placed Ben-Gvir under investigation in connection with a video he posted following the detention of the activists last month.
“Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation into far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over the treatment of Italian nationals detained during the interception of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza”
The probe follows Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters off the coast of Cyprus, where the flotilla was attempting to break Israel’s siege of Gaza, and the article says nationals from more than 40 countries were among those detained.
Ben-Gvir responded to the accusations by writing on social media that Italy, known as “the Boot,” had become “the land of the flip-flop,” and he added, “I will not shy away from one investigation or another and will continue to stand proudly alongside our fighters,” in a separate statement.
The Israeli Prison Service denied allegations from activists that they were abused, while the European Union said it was considering imposing sanctions on Ben-Gvir amid anger over Israel’s treatment of the activists and a surge in violence in the occupied West Bank.
The Times of Israel reported that the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into Ben-Gvir over the treatment of Gaza flotilla activists seen in a video he published last month, and it said the video showed him taunting and humiliating dozens of bound and kneeling activists after Israel detained them after intercepting the flotilla at sea.
Outcry, denials, and sanctions
The Jerusalem Post said the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into Ben-Gvir over his connection with the handling of the May 2026 Global Sumud Flotilla case, after videos posted to social media showed alleged mistreatment of Gaza-bound activists by Ben-Gvir, including mocking them while they were kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.
According to ANSA as cited by The Jerusalem Post, prosecutors were examining potential offenses of kidnapping, torture, violations of maritime navigation laws, and attempted murder in relation to events that allegedly occurred during the interception of the vessels at sea.
Ben-Gvir told Israeli media that “The country shaped like a boot has become the country of flipflops,” and he also said, “Israel is not a punching bag for a bunch of lying terrorism supporters who fabricate slander and falsehoods against our fighters,” as quoted by the Jerusalem Post.
The article also said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar distanced themselves from the footage, and Sa'ar condemned Ben-Gvir in a post on X that began, “You knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display - and not for the first time.”
Al Jazeera reported that the EU is expected to decide next Monday whether to impose sanctions on Ben-Gvir over his treatment of the activists, and it said France had already barred him from entering the country, describing his conduct as “unspeakable”.
France probe and legal stakes
The article says France opened a preliminary investigation into suspicions of torture and war crimes against French citizens who participated in the Global Solidarity Fleet bound for Gaza to break the Israeli blockade, and it describes the French Office of the Prosecutor for Counterterrorism announcing the investigation following an official referral from the French Foreign Ministry.
It adds that the case goes back to May 18 of last year, when Israeli occupation forces intercepted the Global Solidarity Fleet as it sailed in the Mediterranean toward Gaza on a humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the blockade, and it states the fleet included about 50 ships and boats with more than 400 activists and supporters from 44 countries.
The article says footage published by Ben-Gvir showing detainees handcuffed and kneeling during detention drew widespread international criticism, and it describes participants’ testimonies as alleging ill treatment, humiliations, and physical and psychological abuses after being detained.
It also quotes Dr. Lina Al-Tabbal, head of Waves of Freedom – France, saying the opening of a probe in France constitutes an important political and legal victory, and it reports she expects the French investigation to mark the start of a broader European path with other European capitals.
Al-Jazeera Net reported that Italy opened its investigation on Monday over Ben-Gvir’s mistreatment of activists from the 'Global Solidarity Fleet' in May, and it said Israel attacked the boats of the flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea on May 18, numbering around 50 boats carrying 428 activists from 44 countries, before all participants were detained and later released.
