Rome prosecutors said on Friday that Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and several senior military, police and prison officials are now under investigation over how they treated activists from Gaza-bound flotillas. The move widens a probe that had so far focused on Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.
The prosecutors’ office said in a statement that the case concerns suspected torture, kidnapping, personal injury, robbery and damage. These allegations relate to Israeli forces intercepting small boats heading for Gaza in 2025 and 2026.
Complaints from 50 Italian citizens
Investigators acted after complaints from 50 Italian citizens who were detained by Israeli authorities following two Global Sumud Flotilla missions, the first from September to October 2025 and the second from April to May 2026. Prosecutors said people held after the first mission reported beatings, injuries, death threats, insults and accusations of terrorism.
Activists from the second mission described even harsher treatment, according to the statement, including beatings in the dark and the use of tasers and rubber bullets.
Named suspects and a request for judicial help
Besides Katz and Ben-Gvir, prosecutors named 12 senior Israeli military, police and prison officials as suspects, among them military chief Eyal Zamir. Katz did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and neither did Zamir. In June, Ben-Gvir dismissed reports that he was under investigation and said he would keep supporting his fighters.
Prosecutors sent Israel a request for judicial assistance in June, seeking information needed to reconstruct events and establish individual responsibility. They did not say whether Israeli authorities had responded. They also held talks at Eurojust, the European Union’s judicial cooperation agency, because similar probes into the two missions are under way in other European countries that were not named.
What an Italian investigation can and cannot do
Under Italian law, crimes committed abroad against Italian citizens can be prosecuted in Rome. Being placed under investigation, however, does not imply guilt or automatically lead to a trial. If the probe finds that charges are warranted, prosecutors could file a formal request for trial.
Flotilla organisers say they aimed to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid. Israel maintains that its naval blockade of Gaza is lawful.
