Italy is pursuing Ben Gvir, Katz, and Zamir on charges of torture and kidnapping Gaza flotilla activists

Rome - Ofoq News - The Public Prosecutor in Rome announced, today, Friday, that the investigation into the repression of Italian activists who participated in the Al-Samoud flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip last May, as well as the activists who were arrested during a previous flotilla to the Gaza Strip last year, includes 12 prominent Israeli figures, including the Israeli Defense Minister, Chief of Staff, and National Security Minister Ben Gvir.

He explained that the investigation is not limited to Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, whose name was included last June, but also includes Army Minister Yisrael Katz and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, along with other prominent figures in the Israeli army and police leadership.

According to Italian reports, charges under investigation include torture, kidnapping, boarding a ship in violation of international law, poor conditions of detention, theft, degrading treatment, and violation of fundamental rights, including the right to legal representation.

Investigators opened the investigation based on complaints submitted by 50 Italian citizens, who were arrested by Israel on board the two aforementioned fleets in October of last year and May of this year.

This year, the incident sparked widespread global outrage, when Minister Ben Gvir himself published a recording showing the activists being insulted after they were arrested and taken to the detention center in the port of Aydoud, where he confronted them while they were detained, blindfolded, on their knees, with their faces facing the ground. Italian President Sergio Mattarella said at the time that Ben Gvir had reached “the lowest levels.”