Flotilla for Gaza: an investigation opened in Paris to "tortures" et "war crimes" after accusations by French activists against Israel

A preliminary investigation was opened this Friday, June 5 in Paris for “torture” and “war crimes”, indicated the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (Pnat). This procedure follows a report sent by the French government concerning the conditions in which several French people from the Gaza flotilla were treated by the Israeli authorities.

Asked by AFP, the Pnat specified that it had entrusted the investigations to the Central Office for the Fight against Crimes Against Humanity. The investigation concerns in particular acts of “torture, within the meaning of the New York convention of December 10, 1984”, as well as possible “war crimes”.

The report to French justice was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot.

Flotilla activists denounce moral, physical and sexual violence during their detention

The Gaza flotilla brought together several ships carrying hundreds of activists as well as symbolic humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave. The stated objective was to try to break the blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip, devastated by the war.

The far-right Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, had caused an uproar within his government and abroad by publishing a video of activists of a new “flotilla for Gaza” kneeling with their hands tied, after their arrest at sea. Israeli forces had boarded around fifty boats from this flotilla off the coast of Cyprus.

In total, 430 participants, including 37 French nationals, were intercepted by Israeli forces before being expelled on Thursday, May 21, then detained at Ktziot prison. Upon their return to France the next day, several activists denounced physical and sexual violence, humiliation and degrading detention conditions. One of the French participants, Meriem Hadjal, claimed to have “suffered some touching”. Another activist, Adrien Bertel, spoke of “beatings” which allegedly took place in the dark.