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Gaza flotilla

Defense Minister Israel Katz (left) and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, June 2025. (Ariel Harmoni / Defense Ministry)
Italy names Israeli defense minister, IDF chief, others in probe of flotilla activists’ treatment
By Marco Roberti and Crispian Balmer
Prosecutors also launch investigation of 11 senior military, police and prison officials as suspects; if probe determines charges are warranted, Italy could lodge request for trial
French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan speaks during a session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, on October 6, 2026. (Jean-Christophe VERHAEGEN/AFP)
October 6, 2026, 5:36 pm
Far-left EU lawmaker under fire after throwing Israeli flag on floor at Oct. 7 memorial
European Parliament president says incident is being taken seriously; French member Rima Hassan acknowledges removing Israel flag, says EU flag fell accidentally
By AFP and ToI Staff
Boats belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla depart for Gaza from the port of Marmaris, Turkey, May 14, 2026, in an attempt to break the Israeli naval blockade. (AP/Murat Kocabas)
September 2, 2026, 8:48 pm
New Gaza flotilla due to set sail in October in bid to break Israeli blockade
Ships will stop in Spain, Portugal and Italy to gather support and raise funds for their cause before departing for the Palestinian enclave
By ToI Staff
Members of a Gaza-bound flotilla, who were detained by Israeli security forces, speak during a press conference after arriving at Sydney International Airport on May 25, 2026. (DAVID GRAY/AFP)
August 8, 2026, 2:37 pm
Report details further allegations that Gaza flotilla activists were abused by Israel
New York Times interviews some 2 dozen activists, most alleging physical, and in 1 instance, sexual, assault; Israel has repeatedly denied the claims
By ToI Staff
The plane carrying Pope Leo XIV heading to Madrid takes off at Rome’s Fiumicino airport, on June 6, 2026. (Alberto PIZZOLI/AFP)
August 8, 2026, 12:03 pm
Rome airport said to drop Israeli Rafael anti-drone system after court ruling
Report says equipment was deemed military rather than civilian and lacked permits; cancellation comes amid strained Italy-Israel ties
By ToI Staff
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir taunts detained flotilla activists at Ashdod Port on May 20, 2026. (Screenshot/Ben Gvir's X account)
June 8, 2026, 11:55 pm
Italy investigating Ben Gvir for alleged torture, kidnapping over Gaza flotilla video
Judicial source confirms probe, which Italian news agency says has been underway for several weeks; far-right minister says he’s ‘undeterred’ by ‘lying terror supporters’
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (left) is seen at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City during Jerusalem Day celebrations, May 14, 2026. (Jamal Awad/Flash90); National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir tours the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City during Jerusalem Day celebrations on May 14, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 5, 2026, 9:35 pm
Ireland bans Smotrich, Ben Gvir for anti-Palestinian remarks, flotilla actions
Irish PM cast comments by ministers as pushing for ‘elimination of Palestinians from Palestine,’ says behavior justifies sanctions at EU level
By AFP and ToI Staff
Scenes from a video released by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir showing detained flotilla activists at Ashdod Port on May 20, 2026. (Ben Gvir via X)
May 31, 2026, 11:17 pm
Ben Gvir said to have forced his way onto ship to film controversial flotilla video
National security minister blew past 2 officers who tried to prevent him from boarding vessel where detainees were held, threatened to ruin career of one, report says
By ToI Staff
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive for a joint press conference at Chigi Palace government offices in Rome, Friday, March 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
May 28, 2026, 6:45 pm
Italy is fuming after Ben Gvir’s flotilla stunt. Is Israel losing a top European ally?
Far-right minister’s derisive viral video capped months of tension as Iran war, Catholic outrage and anti-Trump sentiment pushes Italian PM Meloni’s government to distance itself from Jerusalem
By Rossella Tercatin
A Basque police officer beats a member of the Global Sumud Flotilla upon their arrival at Bilbao Airport on May 23, 2026. (Idurre Etxaburu / AFP)
May 24, 2026, 12:09 am
Spanish police beat and detain returning Gaza flotilla activists amid clashes at airport
Cops filmed hitting anti-Israel activists and supporters with batons and dragging them on floor. Violence comes days after global outcry, including from Madrid, over Ben Gvir’s taunting of bound, kneeling detainees
By AFP and ToI Staff
France's Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot gives a press conference after a crisis meeting in Paris on March 2, 2026. (Thibault Camus / POOL / AFP)
May 23, 2026, 7:04 pm
France bans Ben Gvir over ‘reprehensible actions’ toward Gaza flotilla activists
French FM joins calls for EU to sanction far-right minister over video of him taunting bound activists; Poland bans him for five years as ‘a threat to public order’
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla disembark a plane upon arriving at Istanbul Airport, in Istanbul, Turkey, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
May 22, 2026, 11:51 pm
Freed Gaza flotilla activists allege Israeli abuse including rape; Israel denies claims
Italian and German officials say they are probing allegations made by their citizens, including kidnapping and sexual assault, as EU members discuss imposing sanctions on Ben Gvir
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Members of the Global Sumud Flotilla headed for Gaza and arrested and deported by Israel pose outside a terminal following their arrival at Istanbul Airport on May 21, 2026. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)
May 21, 2026, 4:28 pm
Amid Ben Gvir furor, Israel deports all 430 foreign flotilla activists, holds one Israeli
Condemnations of Ben Gvir’s video humiliating detainees continue as Italy asks EU for sanctions on the far-right minister, Poland looks to ban him; activists claim they were beaten, tortured; prison service denies it
By Nava Freiberg, Agencies and ToI Staff
Scenes from a video released by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir showing the minister taunting bound and detained flotilla activists at Ashdod Port on May 20, 2026. (Ben Gvir via X)
May 20, 2026, 5:24 pm
Ben Gvir posts video of himself taunting bound and detained Gaza flotilla activists, sparks global outcry
Clip shows minister waving Israeli flag as activists forced to kneel on ground and national anthem blasts over loudspeaker; Italy, France summon Israeli envoys over treatment of their citizens
By ToI Staff, Agencies and Nava Freiberg
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, April 13, 2026. (Chung Sung-Jun/Pool Photo via AP)
May 20, 2026, 1:20 pm
South Korea says Israel’s detention of flotilla activists ‘way out of line’
President Lee says citizens are detained for reasons not valid under international law, and ICC warrants against Netanyahu will be judged separately from Europe
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Israeli naval forces sail a confiscated Gaza-bound flotilla boat into Israel's Ashdod port after intercepting the vessel on the Mediterranean Sea, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
May 20, 2026, 4:11 am
IDF intercepts all ships in Gaza-bound flotilla, over 400 activists being transferred to Israel
Foreign Ministry denounces Global Sumud Flotilla’s attempt to break blockade as ‘a PR stunt at the service of Hamas,’ stresses rubber bullets were fired at ships and not activists
By Stav Levaton, Agencies and ToI Staff
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