Madar (International) - Prosecutors in Rome on Friday, October 16, 2026, widened a criminal investigation into the treatment of Italian activists detained by Israel during the interception of the Gaza-bound "Global Sumud Flotilla" to include Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and 12 senior military, police and prison officials, among them military chief Eyal Zamir, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera, citing a statement from the prosecutors.
The suspected offences, the statement said, include torture, kidnapping, personal injury, robbery and damage to property. The case stems from complaints by 50 Italian citizens detained during two flotilla missions in 2025 and 2026. They reported beatings and death threats, and prosecutors said those on the second mission described harsher treatment, including beatings in the dark and the use of tasers and rubber bullets, as well as at least 15 cases of sexual assault, including rape.
Anadolu Agency, quoting Israeli public broadcaster Kan, which cited Italy's ANSA news agency, reported that the probe also covers navy commanders, Police Commissioner Danny Levy and Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi, alongside National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has been under investigation since June. Katz and Zamir had not commented, Anadolu said.
Prosecutors sent Israel a request for judicial assistance in June without saying whether they had received a reply, and held talks at Eurojust, the EU judicial cooperation agency, as similar investigations are under way elsewhere in Europe. Italian law allows crimes committed abroad against Italian citizens to be prosecuted in Rome, and prosecutors could seek a trial if they find the charges warranted. Being named in the probe does not amount to an indictment.
The flotilla's first mission left Barcelona in September 2025 with 42 boats and 462 activists and was intercepted in international waters in early October that year. The second set sail in April 2026; about 430 people aboard some 50 vessels were detained between April 30 and May 19. Mauritanians took part in both missions: on May 21, 2026, the "Soumoud" coordination announced the release of four Mauritanian participants, as Madar reported at the time.
