France initiates ‘war crimes’ probe into Israel’s treatment of flotilla activists
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French anti-terrorism prosecutors have launched a preliminary investigation into allegations of torture and war crimes linked to Israel’s treatment of French activists who participated in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last month.
The investigation was opened on Friday after France’s foreign ministry referred the matter to prosecutors. The move follows accusations by activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla that they were subjected to serious mistreatment while detained by Israeli authorities, Al Jazeera reported.
Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters on May 18 and detained about 430 activists from around 40 countries who were attempting to challenge the blockade on Gaza. The blockade has been criticised by the United Nations and human rights groups, which argue that it amounts to collective punishment.
The incident drew further controversy after Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared a video appearing to mock the detained activists while they were restrained. France subsequently barred him from entering the country and summoned Israel’s ambassador, joining several allies in condemning the episode.
French activists who returned home on May 22 described what they said was a violent and degrading experience during detention. Some reported physical abuse, sexual harassment and prolonged stress positions, while two French participants remained hospitalised in Türkiye after the incident.
According to activists and their legal representatives, detainees were allegedly subjected to physical violence, sexual humiliation and harsh treatment. The Global Sumud Flotilla said it had documented at least 15 cases of alleged sexual abuse, while lawyers representing French participants indicated that they intended to file a separate complaint citing allegations of rape, torture and humiliation, AFP reported.
Adalah lawyers said accounts collected from activists suggested the case could represent one of the most serious instances of alleged mistreatment of flotilla participants in the past decade. The organisation reported receiving allegations of repeated physical assaults, stress positions and sexual harassment.
The activists have declined invitations to meet French officials, arguing that France has supported Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Israel’s prison service rejected the allegations, telling AFP that the claims of mistreatment were completely unfounded.
Meanwhile, Francesca Albanese, an outspoken UN expert on the Palestinian territory, said the treatment reported by the activists was a luxury compared to what the Palestinians experience in Israeli detention facilities.