Italy launches probe against Israeli defense minister

Israel Katz is being investigated over the alleged abuse of activists from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office has said Italy has expended its probe into the alleged torture and sexual abuse of activists from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla by Israel’s security forces to include Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and twelve other high-ranking military, police and prison officials, the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office has said.

Israel intercepted dozens of yachts in international waters and arrested more than 800 volunteers from various countries in October 2025 and May 2026, who were attempting to break West Jerusalem’s naval blockade of the Palestinian enclave.

They were held for days before being deported.

The investigation was launched by Rome earlier this year after some 50 Italian nationals, who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla missions, complained about being mistreated in Israeli detention, among other things reporting at least 15 cases of sexual abuse and rape.

The probe had initially beeen centered on the country’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

A similar inquiry was initiated by France.

Read more October 7 becomes Netanyahu’s ‘political kryptonite’ – RT reports (VIDEO) The Rome prosecutor's office said in a statement on Friday that the case against the Israeli officials concerns suspected torture, kidnapping, personal injury, robbery and damage.

The activists detained after the 2025 mission reported beatings, injuries, death threats, insults and accusations of terrorism, the statement read.

The participants of the second mission claimed to have been subject to even harsher treatment by Israeli security forces, including beatings in the dark and the use of tasers and rubber bullets, it added.

Prosecutors said they had sent a request for judicial assistance in the investigation to Israel in June, but it remains unclear if they received a response from West Jerusalem.

Italian law allows crimes committed abroad against Italian citizens to be prosecuted by Rome.

If the probe finds the charges warranted, the country could formally request a trial of the Israeli officials.

Katz and Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir, who is now also under investigation, haven’t yet commented on the development.

Ben-Gvir brushed off the Italian probe in June, saying that he would “continue to stand proudly alongside our fighters.” Read more Gaza should be wiped out for ‘Zionist reasons’ – Israeli minister West Jerusalem has repeatedly rejected accusations of mistreating the activists and described the flotilla missions as political provocations designed to aid the Palestinian armed group Hamas.