Italy opens investigation after Israel detains Gaza flotilla activists on Italian-flagged vessel

Italy probes ‘abduction’ after Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla Prosecutors in Rome have opened an abduction investigation after Israeli forces intercepted 22 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near Crete, according to Italian news agency ANSA. Israel abducted 175 activists from the vessels. Most were later released, including 24 Italian nationals, while two - Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila - were taken into custody in Ashkelon, a city in southern Israel near the Gaza border. The investigation follows three complaints filed with Italian authorities, including two relating to Abu Keshek and Avila, who were travelling on Italian-flagged boats. The flotilla departed from Marseille, Barcelona and Syracuse in Sicily, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Organisers said Israeli naval forces disabled the boats during the interception. They described the operation as a "violent raid," saying crews smashed engines and destroyed navigation systems, leaving hundreds stranded at sea in what they called a "calculated death trap at sea," ANSA reported. Rome prosecutors are also examining a separate flotilla interception last year, which remains under investigation on suspicion of torture and other offences.

Italian prosecutors have opened an unlawful detention investigation following a raid by Israeli forces on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, Italian media reported on Monday. The probe was opened following complaints received over the detention last week of Spanish citizen Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila, who were on an Italian-flagged vessel. An Israeli court on Sunday extended for two days the detention of the two activists who were taken to Israel for questioning. The two were on a flotilla of more than 50 vessels that left France, Spain and Italy, aiming to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and bring supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory. They were intercepted in international waters off Greece on Thursday, with Israel saying it had removed some 175 activists. Avila and Abu Keshek were taken to Israel for questioning, while the other activists were released. The Israeli operation was widely criticised, particularly by Italy and Spain. The Rome prosecutor’s office opened a similar investigation last October following a previous attempt by a humanitarian flotilla to reach Gaza. In that incident, several hundred activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, were detained at sea, transferred to Israel and then expelled.