Rome: Italian prosecutors have placed 'Israeli' Defence Minister Israel Katz and senior military, police and prison officials under investigation over the alleged mistreatment of activists intercepted while sailing towards Gaza.
The announcement on October 16 expands a probe previously focused on National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Prosecutors named 12 other senior officials alongside the two ministers, including military chief Eyal Zamir.
The investigation concerns suspected torture, kidnapping, personal injury, robbery and property damage during Israeli operations against two Global Sumud Flotilla missions in September to October 2025 and April to May 2026.
Rome prosecutors said the case followed complaints from 50 Italian citizens detained after the interceptions.
Participants in the first mission reported beatings, injuries, death threats, insults and accusations of terrorism. Those detained during the second mission described harsher treatment, including beatings in darkness and the use of tasers and rubber bullets, according to the prosecutors’ statement.
Investigators said they had identified individuals within the military and police chains of command involved in the operations.
A request for judicial assistance was sent to Israel in June to obtain information needed to reconstruct events and establish individual responsibility. Prosecutors did not say whether Israeli authorities had responded.
They also held discussions through Eurojust, the European Union’s (EU) judicial cooperation agency, because similar investigations were underway in other European countries.
Katz and Zamir did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ben Gvir dismissed reports of the investigation in June, saying he would continue supporting 'Israeli' forces.
Under Italian law, offences committed abroad against Italian citizens can be prosecuted in Rome. Inclusion in an investigation does not establish guilt or automatically lead to trial.
Flotilla organisers said the missions sought to deliver humanitarian assistance and challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Israel maintains that its naval blockade is lawful.
