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Gaza flotilla activists accuse Israeli authorities of violence and ...
Activists on a humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza seized by Israel have accused the military of sexual assault and violence while they were in detention. Sky's Adam Parsons reports. Adam Parsons Middle East correspondent @adamparsons Friday 22 May 2026 17:46, UK GazaIsrael Israel's handling of the flotilla faced international criticism after far right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mocked detainees Why you can trust Sky News
Freed Gaza flotilla activists allege Israeli abuse including rape ...
Activists released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla trying to break Israel’s naval blockade on Gaza were subjected to abuse, organizers alleged on Friday, with several hospitalized with injuries and at least 15 reporting sexual assaults, including rape. The Israel Prison Service denied the allegations, saying all detained activists were held “in accordance with the law, with full regard for their basic rights,” and received necessary and professional medical care. Reuters noted it was unable to independently verify the activists’ claims. Germany said some of its nationals had been injured and that some accusations were “serious,” without giving further details. A legal source in Italy said prosecutors there were investigating possible crimes, including kidnapping and sexual assault. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories By signing up, you agree to the terms Israeli forces arrested 430 people on board 50 ships in international waters on Tuesday to halt a flotilla of volunteers trying to break the blockade on Gaza. An activist from the Global Sumud Flotilla getting medical assistance inside an ambulance upon his arrival at Istanbul Airport, in Istanbul, Turkey, May 21, 2026. (Emrah Gurel/AP) The allegations of abuse will add pressure on Israeli authorities to explain the treatment of the detainees, after a video of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir in a detention center mocking some of the bound, kneeling activists sparked an international outcry. Ben Gvir posted the video himself. “We’re very concerned by these reports,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said when asked about the abuse allegations at a regular briefing on Friday. Italy said EU members were discussing imposing sanctions on Ben Gvir. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he was in touch with all his EU counterparts “so that there may be a quick decision to impose sanctions” on the minister. ככה אנחנו מקבלים את תומכי הטרור Welcome to Israel ???????? pic.twitter.com/7Hf8cAg7fC — איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 20, 2026 Allegations of sexual abuse Global Sumud Flotilla, the organizers of the aid shipment, said the group had documented at least 15 cases of sexual abuse, with the worst occurring on one Israeli landing craft, which had been converted into a makeshift prison with barbed wire and shipping containers. Activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla are carried on wheel stretchers upon their arrival at...
Israeli Minister Posts Video Mocking Detained Gaza Flotilla Activists ...
Last Updated:May 20, 2026, 19:02 ISTThe activists were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which sailed from Turkey last week in an attempt to challenge Israel’s blockade on Gaza.Ben-Gvir shared the footage on X with the caption “Welcome to Israel”, showing detained activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has sparked outrage after posting a video showing detained Gaza flotilla activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.The footage, shared on X with the caption “Welcome to Israel", showed dozens of pro-Palestine activists on the deck of a military vessel while the Israeli national anthem played in the background. Some activists were seen face-down on the floor, while others were forced into a kneeling position during detention.Recommended StoriesIsraeli Lawmakers Back Bill To Dissolve Parliament. What Happens Next?India-Italy Ties Get Biggest Upgrade Yet: 10 Key Takeaways From Modi-Meloni Meet'Is Your Paycheck Worth This': AI Engineer Says Google Unfairly Sacked Him. Reason: Work With Israel‘Took Us To The Global Stage’: Parle Thanks PM Modi For Gifting Melody Toffees To MeloniIn another part of the video, Ben-Gvir is seen smiling and waving an Israeli flag as security forces surround the detained activists. One clip appeared to show a woman being violently pinned to the ground by an Israeli soldier after shouting “Free Palestine".The activists were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which sailed from Turkey last week in an attempt to challenge Israel’s blockade on Gaza.Italy Demands Release Of CitizensItalian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni strongly criticised the treatment of the activists, calling the scenes “unacceptable" and “intolerable".In a statement, Meloni said several Italian citizens were among those detained and demanded their immediate release. She also called on Israel to apologise over the incident.“It is intolerable that these protesters, among whom there are many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment, which violates human dignity," Meloni said.She further accused Israel of ignoring requests made by the Italian government regarding the safety and treatment of the activists.“Italy also demands an apology for the treatment inflicted on these demonstrators and for the total disregard shown towards the explicit requests of the Italian government," the Italian Prime Minister added.Israeli authorities has said around 430 activists aboard the flotilla ...
Gaza flotilla activists allege abuse, sexual assault in Israeli ...
Warning: This story contains details of sexual assault that some readers may find disturbing.Organisers of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla say freed foreign activists who were abducted from international waters faced abuse while in Israeli detention, including at least 15 reporting incidents of sexual assault or rape.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4US condemns Israel’s Ben-Gvir while sanctioning Gaza flotilla organiserslist 2 of 4Outrage over Israel’s Ben-Gvir flotilla abuse video: What we knowlist 3 of 4Israel deports hundreds of Gaza aid flotilla activists amid global outcrylist 4 of 4How Ben-Gvir’s flotilla video shattered Israel’s multimillion ‘Hasbara’end of listThe Global Sumud Flotilla organisers added in a statement on Telegram on Friday that several activists were hospitalised with injuries, a day after hundreds were deported from Israel.Germany said some of its nationals who were on board the flotilla had been injured and that some accusations were “serious”, without giving further details. A legal source in Italy said prosecutors there were investigating possible crimes, including kidnapping and sexual assault.“We’re very concerned by these reports,” United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said when asked about the allegations at a regular briefing on Friday, pointing to the reports from activists, as well as videos shared by an Israeli minister “which shows the humiliating treatment of the people who were detained by the flotilla”.Israeli forces abducted about 430 people on board 50 ships in international waters on Tuesday to halt a flotilla of volunteers trying to bring aid supplies to the Gaza Strip.On Wednesday, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir released a video showing him taunting the foreign activists at an Israeli landing craft, which had been converted into a makeshift prison with barbed wire and shipping containers in Israel’s city of Ashdod.The video, which showed the abductees cable-tied and kneeling while Israel’s national anthem blared, has put pressure on the Israeli government to explain the mistreatment of the activists.Dujarric said those still being held “need to be released and sent home”, adding that “people who were responsible for that treatment should be held to account.”‘Stripped, thrown to the ground, kicked’Global Sumud Flotilla, the organisers of the aid shipment, said the group had documented at least 15 cases of sexual abuse, with the worst occurring on a vessel converted ...
