In a recent Reuters article, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of National Security and leader of the far-right party Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit), is being investigated by Italian prosecutors over his reported role in the torturing and kidnapping of Italian activists who were a part of a Gaza flotilla last month that tried to break through Israel’s naval blockade to provide humanitarian assistance to the civilians trapped in Gaza. Activists who were onboard were arrested by Israeli naval forces on international waters and later moved to an Israeli port. Among the detained activists, many were Italian and South Korean citizens. Activists that boarded past flotillas were deported after being detained. The organizers of the recent flotilla told Reuters in an article published last week the activists are being moved to Ketziot prison in Israel’s southern Negev desert.
After arresting the onboarded activists, Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on X of officers forcing an activist to the ground after she chants “Free, free Palestine.” The footage also shows rows of activists kneeling with their hands zip-tied behind their backs. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia condemned Ben-Gvir’s treatment of the activists. President Lee Jae Myung said Israeli forces had no legal basis to seize the ship and detain the activists who were onboard.
Ben-Gvir has been Israel’s Minister of National Security since 2022. In January of 2025, Ben-Gvir resigned after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed the Gaza ceasefire deal that returned the hostages held in the Gaza Strip to express his disapproval. He was shortly reappointed to the same position by Netanyahu’s cabinet in March 2025.
Organizers of the flotilla alleged that activists, who were released by Israeli authorities on May 22nd, were subjected to abuse and sexual violence while being detained. Organizers said there were at least 15 cases of sexual assault, including rape. The allegations were denied by Israel’s prison service. Reuters has not been able to independently verify these reports.
Following the publication of a video on X showing Itamar Ben-Gvir mocking detained Gaza flotilla activists, France banned the Israeli minister from entering its territory, citing inhumane treatment of the detainees. French authorities have also launched an investigation into potential “war crimes” and “torture” regarding the treatment of French citizens aboard the recent Gaza-bound vessel. Meanwhile, Italy has escalated the diplomatic response, calling on the European Union to discuss potential sanctions against Ben-Gvir. The initial probe determines charges are warranted, prosecutors could issue a formal request for a trial. However, executing an arrest or conducting a trial would face major jurisdictional hurdles since Ben-Gvir is a sitting Israeli minister residing in Israel.
For the first time UN added Israel to its sexual violence in warzones blacklist over the recent event in late May. In response, Israel has severed diplomatic ties with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The UN reported 31verified cases of sexual violence, including “rape, gang rape, forced nudity, to violence to genitals,” committed by officers from the Israeli military, police and prison service against 14 men, seven women, nine boys and one girl, according to a BBC article published on May 29th. Countries blacklisted by the UN often face intense diplomatic pressure and drive organizations to withdraw from operations or partnerships to avoid public shaming or reputational damage. To date, no publicly available information suggests organizations that were partners with Israel before the UN adding Israel to its blacklist have withdrawn from Israel.
