Italy probes Israel’s Katz over abuse, sexual assault of flotilla activists

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1. Ativistas da Flotilha de Gaza alegam abuso, agressão sexual em detenção israelense.

Itália investiga Katz, da Israel, por abuso e agressão sexual a ativistas da flotilha | Human Rights News | Al Jazeera Pular links Pular para o conteúdo Reproduzir ao vivo Inscrever-se Mostrar menu de navegação Menu de navegação.

The Rome prosecutors’ office said on Friday that the case concerns suspected torture, kidnapping, personal injury, robbery and damage when Israeli forces intercepted small fleets of activist boats heading towards Gaza in 2025 and 2026.

Ele abriu a investigação após reclamações de 50 cidadãos italianos que foram detidos após duas missões da Flotilha Global Sumud no ano passado e neste ano.

Those named as suspects include Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir.

Prosecutors said activists detained after the first mission in 2025 reported beatings, injuries, death threats, insults and accusations of terrorism. Those on the second mission in 2026 reported harsher treatment, including beatings in the dark and the use of tasers and rubber bullets, the statement said.

The activists reported at least 15 cases of sexual assault, including rape.

Luca Poggi, an Italian economist who was detained, told Reuters news agency in May: “We were stripped, thrown to the ground, kicked.”.

Ben‑Gvir descartou as notícias da investigação em junho, dizendo que “continuaria a ficar orgulhosamente ao lado” dos soldados israelenses.

Flotilla organisers say they aim to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid.

The first Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Barcelona in September 2025 with 42 boats and 462 activists. Israeli forces intercepted it in international waters in early October that year, with hundreds detained and later deported.

The second mission left Barcelona in April 2026. Israeli forces began intercepting its vessels near the southern Greek island of Crete on April 30, and by May 19 had detained about 430 people on some 50 ships in international waters, with the final interceptions taking place off Cyprus.

Ben-Gvir later posted a video showing him taunting activists who were cable-tied and kneeling at a makeshift prison at the port of Ashdod while Israel’s national anthem played.

Os promotores disseram que enviaram a Israel um pedido de assistência judicial em junho, buscando informações para reconstruir os eventos e estabelecer responsabilidade individual, mas não disseram se Israel havia respondido.

They also held talks at Eurojust, the EU’s judicial cooperation agency, as other similar investigations are under way in other European countries.

Under Italian law, crimes committed abroad against Italian citizens can be prosecuted in Rome.

Se a investigação determinar que as acusações são justificadas, os promotores poderiam formalmente solicitar um julgamento.

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