Prosecutors from ten European Union member states and Australia have been sharing evidence and cooperating on investigations into alleged torture, kidnapping, and ill-treatment of activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, after two humanitarian missions were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters in October 2025 and May 2026. The cooperation was confirmed by legal sources who took part in a meeting in The Hague on September 16, held within a framework coordinated by Eurojust, the EU’s judicial cooperation agency.
The September 16 meeting, which ran for about eight hours, brought together prosecutors from Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, and Finland, with Australian representatives attending as guests. In at least five other European countries, including Germany, Norway, and Austria, complaints have been filed but authorities have not yet decided whether to open formal investigations, according to the sources.
The cases focus on alleged crimes against citizens during two humanitarian missions by the Global Sumud Flotilla, intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. The first, in October 2025, carried activists including former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau. The second, in May 2026, involved a harsher response. According to an account by EL PAÍS contributor Ignacio Ladrón de Guevara, who was aboard one of the vessels in the second mission, beatings and mistreatment were so severe that the mission recorded at least 35 bone fractures and more than 10 allegations of sexual abuse, with taser shocks and stun grenades used.
Spain’s investigation is distinctive in its legal basis. Judge Francisco de Jorge of the Audiencia Nacional concluded that, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Spain has jurisdiction only over events on board Spanish-flagged vessels, which, in his interpretation, were for practical legal purposes Spanish territory. Spain can therefore investigate alleged crimes on board them regardless of victims’ nationality. His jurisdiction stops once activists were transferred to Israeli territory or other vessels. Néstor Prieto, a freelance journalist who was on the October 2025 mission and led the complaint, called the probe “positive, but insufficient” because it does not cover alleged abuses during subsequent detention or participants on non-Spanish ships.
Italy has opened a broader investigation targeting Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and 13 other senior officials, including Defence Minister Israel Katz, covering the full sequence from boarding to deportation. Italian prosecutors argue that the cases point to a modus operandi involving systematic violence and human rights violations. They also reinforce the view that alleged abuses were carried out under the same chain of command. Ben Gvir himself posted a video showing detained activists bound and kneeling, with the comment: “This is how we welcome terror supporters. Welcome to Israel.” Israeli prison authorities said they acted “in accordance with the law and with full respect for the activists’ fundamental rights.”
Judicial investigations were opened in France and Poland in June. In the Netherlands, seven activists filed a complaint in July alleging sexual assault by Israeli military personnel. Australian police are investigating allegations of rape and torture made by activists. Turkey issued arrest warrants for 35 Israeli suspects, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over alleged crimes against humanity and torture.
Saif Abukeshek, a leader of the flotilla, told EL PAÍS that the interception occurred in European waters and involved entry into Greek territory. “The violations committed by Israel are very clear and the orders that were given were made public,” he said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- This is the first coordinated multilateral effort to investigate allegations of ill-treatment from the flotilla interceptions, potentially leading to collective legal action.
- It tests the reach of national jurisdiction over incidents in international waters and could set precedents for similar cases.
- The volume of cases increases diplomatic and legal pressure on Israeli officials from European states.
Background
The Global Sumud Flotilla missions sought to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza amid ongoing conflict and restrictions on access. Multiple international legal proceedings concerning Israeli actions in Gaza were already underway, including cases at the International Criminal Court against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and a case at the International Court of Justice. Spain had opened its own investigation into Israeli military actions against the civilian population in Gaza in June 2025.
Key Perspectives
Italian prosecutors: argue the flotilla incidents point to a modus operandi of systematic violence and human rights violations under a single chain of command.
Israeli prison authorities: said they acted in accordance with the law and with full respect for the activists’ fundamental rights.
Néstor Prieto (flotilla participant): calls the Spanish investigation positive but insufficient because it excludes abuses during detention and activists on non-Spanish vessels.
Saif Abukeshek (flotilla leader): says the violations are clear and expects the cases to lead to convictions.
What to Watch
- Decisions by Germany, Norway and Austria on whether to open formal investigations into complaints already filed.
- Whether the Eurojust framework expands to include additional countries or leads to joint evidence-gathering.
- Potential diplomatic repercussions for Israel as more European states actively investigate senior officials.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedTen European countries shared evidence on alleged torture of Gaza flotilla activists.El País English: “Ten European countries share evidence on alleged torture of Gaza flotilla activists.”
- SupportedProsecutors from ten EU member states and Australia cooperated and shared information on investigations into alleged crimes against flotilla activists.El País English: “Prosecutors from 10 European Union member states — Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and Finland — along with Australia, have been cooperating and sharing information on cases and investigations”
- SupportedThe Hague meeting was held on September 16 within a framework coordinated by Eurojust and lasted about eight hours.El País English: “The meeting, which lasted around eight hours, took place within a framework of cooperation coordinated by Eurojust, the EU’s judicial cooperation agency.”
- SupportedThe two flotilla missions were intercepted in international waters in October 2025 and May 2026.El País English: “These focus on alleged crimes committed against their citizens during the flotilla raid in October 2025 and when a second humanitarian mission was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters in May this year”
- SupportedContributor Ignacio Ladrón de Guevara recounted that the May mission recorded at least 35 bone fractures and more than 10 allegations of sexual abuse.El País English: “As EL PAÍS contributor Ignacio Ladrón de Guevara, who was aboard one of the vessels, later recounted, the beatings and mistreatment were so severe that the mission recorded at least 35 bone fractures and more than 10 allegations of sexual abuse.”
- SupportedJudge Francisco de Jorge concluded that Spain’s jurisdiction covers events aboard Spanish-flagged flotilla vessels, but ends after passengers are transferred to Israeli territory or other vessels.El País English: “Judge De Jorge accepted the complaints against the two Israeli commanders after concluding that, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Spain has jurisdiction only over events that took place aboard flotilla vessels sailing under the Spanish flag.”
- SupportedNéstor Prieto called the investigation “positive, but insufficient.”El País English: “For freelance journalist Néstor Prieto, one of the flotilla participants who led the complaint before the High Court, the investigation is “positive, but insufficient,””
- SupportedItaly’s broader investigation targets Itamar Ben Gvir and 13 other senior Israeli officials.El País English: “Following complaints filed by 50 Italian passengers, prosecutors decided to go a step further and announced a broader investigation targeting not only Ben Gvir but also 13 other senior Israeli officials, including Defence Minister Israel Katz.”
- SupportedItalian prosecutors say the cases point to a modus operandi involving systematic violence and human rights violations, and reinforce the view that the alleged abuses were carried out under the same chain of command.El País English: “Italian prosecutors argue that the cases point to a modus operandi involving systematic violence and human rights violations. They also reinforce the view that, although the alleged abuses took place at different times, they were carried out under the same chain of command.”
- SupportedBen Gvir posted a video with the words: “This is how we welcome terror supporters. Welcome to Israel.”El País English: ““This is how we welcome terror supporters. Welcome to Israel,” the minister declared in a video he posted on social media.”
- SupportedIsraeli prison authorities said they acted “in accordance with the law and with full respect for the activists’ fundamental rights.”El País English: “Israel’s prison authorities said they had acted “in accordance with the law and with full respect for the activists’ fundamental rights.””
- SupportedSaif Abukeshek said: “The violations committed by Israel are very clear and the orders that were given were made public.”El País English: ““The violations committed by Israel are very clear and the orders that were given were made public,” he says, referring to threats issued by the Israeli government.”