Israel faces accusations of sexual abuse and torture of Global Sumud Fleet activists

The Global Sumud Fleet, a humanitarian aid convoy attempting to reach the Gaza Strip, says Israeli forces detained 428 activists in international waters and subjected them to severe abuse. The fleet’s statement reports at least 15 cases of sexual abuse, including rape, and widespread physical violence – broken ribs, shattered bones, electric shocks and beatings with plastic‑slug rounds. Activists were confined in dark containers and transferred to the INS Nahshon vessel, where “they threw me into a dark container, I heard ‘Welcome to Israel’ and then got beaten,” one witness recounted.

Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible war crimes, and activists from Spain, Italy and other countries have described the ordeal, saying their clothing was stripped, they were kicked, and some were denied legal counsel. The allegations have drawn condemnation from multiple governments, which describe the incident as a violation of international law.