The Roman prosecutors have opened an investigation file against the Israeli Minister for Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir. There are numerous alleged crimes contained in the complaints presented by the activists of the Global sumud flotilla.
The exposed
Upon returning from humanitarian expeditions that wanted to break the Israeli naval blockade on Gaza, the Flotilla activists were assisted by some lawyers to denounce the violence they suffered upon capture. The complaints accuse Ben-Gvir of kidnapping (for the arrest in international waters), of torture (for the humiliations inflicted by the minister and shared by him with a video on social media), of violation of the navigation code and of attempted murder (for the flares dropped on the boats by the drones).
The minister’s reply
“Italy has gone from the land of the boot to the land of flip-flops. Israel is not a punching bag for a group of lying supporters of terrorism who invent slander and false accusations against our forces,” Ben-Gvir said on social media.
“I will not be deterred by this investigation or any others and will continue to stand proudly alongside our troops,” concluded Ben-Gvir.
His name is not the only one being examined by prosecutors. The magistrates will investigate Defense Minister Israel Katz, Navy Commander Eyal Harel, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi. The latter could be called to account for the management of the imprisonment in Ashdod and Ketziot.
The violence and humiliation
The Flotilla activists on the various expeditions were transferred to these penitentiary institutions. This is where the mistreatment, humiliation and violence by the Israeli army and beyond took place. In recent weeks, the video published by Ben-Gvir himself on social media accompanied by the caption: “This is how we welcome supporters of terrorism, welcome to Israel”, had caused outrage.
ככה אנחנו מקבלים את תומכי הטרור
Welcome to Israel 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/7Hf8cAg7fC
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 20, 2026
In the video, hundreds of activists – including thirty Italian citizens – could be seen blindfolded, with their hands tied by cable ties, forced to kneel with their faces to the ground and dragged on the floor by masked officers, while the speakers broadcast the Israeli anthem.