Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and senior military, police and prison officials have been placed under investigation in Italy over the treatment of Gaza flotilla activists, Italian prosecutors have said.
The Rome prosecutors’ office said on Friday that the probe, previously focused on far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, concerns suspected torture, kidnapping, personal injury, robbery and damage during Israeli interceptions of Gaza-bound boats in 2025 and 2026.
Investigators opened the case following complaints from 50 Italian citizens detained by Israeli authorities during two Global Sumud Flotilla missions, in September–October 2025 and April–May 2026.
Besides Katz and Ben-Gvir, prosecutors named 12 senior Israeli military, police and prison officials as suspects, including military chief Eyal Zamir.
Death threats, beatings
The investigation into Ben-Gvir followed international condemnation of footage he released in May showing detained flotilla activists kneeling with their hands bound.
In one clip, officers forced an activist to the ground after she chanted “Free, free Palestine”.
Italy’s government condemned the treatment as “unacceptable” and summoned the Israeli ambassador. Rome subsequently called for the European Union to discuss sanctions against Ben-Gvir.
Activists detained during the first mission reported beatings, injuries, death threats, insults and accusations of terrorism, prosecutors said.
Those involved in the second mission said they faced even harsher treatment, including beatings in the dark and the use of tasers and rubber bullets.
Investigators said they had identified individuals within the military and police chains of command involved in the operations.
Prosecutors sent Israel a request for judicial assistance in June, seeking information to reconstruct events and establish individual responsibility. They did not say whether Israeli authorities had responded.
They also held talks at the European Union’s judicial cooperation agency, Eurojust, as similar investigations into the two missions were under way in other European countries, which they did not identify.
Under Italian law, crimes committed abroad against Italian citizens can be prosecuted in Rome.
Being placed under investigation does not imply guilt or automatically lead to a trial. Prosecutors could formally request a trial if they determine that charges are warranted.
Flotilla organisers say the missions aimed to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid.
