France opens war crimes probe into Israel's treatment of French Gaza flotilla activists

French anti-terrorism prosecutors announced on Friday the opening of a preliminary investigation into allegations of torture and war crimes committed by Israeli authorities against French activists. The probe follows a referral from the French foreign ministry late last month, after participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla accused Israeli security forces of severe physical and sexual violence during their detention.

The interception and detention

On 18 May, the Israeli navy intercepted a flotilla of more than 50 boats in international waters west of Cyprus. The vessels were attempting to break the naval blockade on the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aid. Around 430 activists from approximately 40 countries were detained and forcibly taken to Israel, where they were held at Ktziot prison in the south before being deported to Turkey. More than 30 French nationals were among those on board.

Allegations of abuse

Upon their return to France on 22 May, eight French activists described what they called a violent and humiliating ordeal. One woman recounted being groped and slapped by a soldier in a dark container, and said she feared she would be raped. Another activist described detainees being forced into a stress position, on their knees with their foreheads on the ground for several hours, while the Israeli national anthem played on repeat. Two of the French participants remained hospitalised in Turkey at the time of their colleagues' return.

Suhad Bishara, legal director at the Israeli legal centre Adalah, told Al Jazeera that based on accounts received, this appeared to be the most severe case of ill-treatment documented in the past ten years, potentially amounting to torture. Adalah lawyers have been informed of repeated physical violence resulting in serious injuries, prolonged stress positions, and sexual humiliation and harassment. Israeli prison authorities have denied the allegations, calling them completely unfounded.

The Ben-Gvir video

International outrage was fuelled by a video posted by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The footage showed the minister walking among handcuffed activists who were pinned to the deck of a ship, while the Israeli national anthem played. In the minute-long video, police officers can be seen manhandling at least one detainee. The video drew swift and rare criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Ben-Gvir's conduct was not in line with Israel's values and norms.

not in line with Israel's values and norms

Diplomatic fallout

France summoned the Israeli ambassador and imposed an entry ban on Ben-Gvir following the incident. Germany, the United States, the European Union, Italy and Spain also expressed sharp criticism, with several states summoning their Israeli ambassadors. Ireland subsequently imposed entry bans on Ben-Gvir and far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich. The Dutch government summoned the Israeli ambassador, with Prime Minister Jetten describing the treatment of the detainees as degrading.

The French investigation

The investigation was entrusted to the Central Office for the Fight against Crimes against Humanity (OCLCH). French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot had referred the matter to prosecutors based on a report from the French consul general in Turkey, which detailed cases of sexual violence, exposure to cold, beatings and repeated humiliations against French nationals. The probe is examining potential violations under the New York Convention of 10 December 1984 against torture, as well as war crimes.

sexual violence, exposure to cold, beatings and repeated humiliations against French nationals

Lawyers for the Global Sumud Flotilla expressed satisfaction at the investigation but noted that the abuses suffered by flotilla participants paled in comparison to what the Palestinian people endure daily. The case adds to Israel's increasing diplomatic isolation among longtime European allies over the course of its military campaign in Gaza.