ROME, June 8, 2026 (WAFA) – The Italian Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir in connection with the Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla, according to reports.
The Italian news agency ANSA said the probe is linked to the Israeli authorities’ interception of a vessel and the detention of activists on board under conditions described as inhumane.
It added that the investigation relates to statements made by Ben Gvir in May, in which he mocked activists who were seen kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs at the Ashdod port following their detention by Israeli authorities.
The report noted that the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office had already opened an investigation weeks earlier into the interception of Solidarity Fleet activists, including allegations of torture and unlawful detention.
According to the report, the case covers the interception of activists, including Italian nationals, and the circumstances surrounding their detention after the vessel was seized.
The Global Freedom Flotilla, which set sail in April toward the Gaza Strip in an attempt to break the blockade, included dozens of activists, solidarity campaigners, and political and parliamentary figures from Italy and other European countries.
The treatment of participants following the interception of the vessels by Israeli authorities in international waters and their transfer to Ashdod has triggered widespread criticism in Italy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the scenes as unacceptable and degrading to human dignity, urging Israel to provide clarifications, while Rome summoned the Israeli ambassador.
These developments come amid parallel legal initiatives at the international level, as human rights advocates have submitted requests to the International Criminal Court to broaden ongoing investigations related to the war on Gaza, to include alleged violations against international participants in the Solidarity Flotilla.
T.R.
