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28-05-2026
KUALA LUMPUR/ MELBOURNE: Activists released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla trying to take aid to Gaza were subjected to abuse, organizers have alleged, with several hospitalized with injuries and at least 15 reporting sexual assaults, including rape.
Israel’s prison service denied the allegations, and media was not able to verify them independently.
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.
An Israeli prison service spokesperson said in a statement: “The allegations raised are false and entirely without factual basis.
“All prisoners and detainees are held in accordance with the law, with full regard for their basic rights and under the supervision of professional and trained prison staff,” they said.
“Medical care is provided according to professional medical judgment and in accordance with ministry of health guidelines.”
The Israeli military referred queries to the foreign ministry, which referred them to the prison service.
Israeli forces arrested 430 people onboard 50 ships in international waters on Tuesday to halt the flotilla of volunteers trying to take aid supplies to the Gaza Strip.
The allegations of abuse will add to pressure on Israeli authorities to explain the treatment of the detainees, after video footage of the Israeli security minister mocking some of the activists in prison sparked an international outcry.
Italy said EU members were discussing imposing sanctions on the minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.
“At least 15 cases of sexual assaults, including rape,” organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla posted on the Telegram social media app. “Shot with rubber bullets at close range. Tens of people’s bones broken.
“While the world’s eye is trained on the suffering of our participants, we cannot emphasize enough that this is a mere glimpse of the brutality Israel imposes daily on Palestinian hostages.”
Luca Poggi, an Italian economist among those detained from the flotilla, told media on his arrival in Rome: “We were stripped, thrown to the ground, kicked. Many of us were Tasered, some were sexually assaulted, and some were denied access to a lawyer.”
Australian activists allege abuse after Israeli abduction
Australian activists detained by Israel while on a flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza have returned home, and organizers allege abuse, sexual assaults and beatings that put some detainees in hospital.
One activist reached Melbourne on Sunday evening while others arrived in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on Monday.
Malaysian official promises to take Israel to court
Meanwhile, a Malaysian regional official said his country was prepared to launch legal proceedings against Israel over the alleged mistreatment of Malaysian activists once lawyers finalize the collection of information and supporting evidence, local media reported on Monday.
“We will not remain silent. We will not stop. While the legal team gathers all documentation on violations of international law, they [the flotilla participants] were kidnapped more than once. They were tortured,” Amirudin Shari, the chief minister of the Malaysian state of Selangor, said at a ceremony welcoming back flotilla activists at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)
