France seeks investigation into Israel’s treatment of Gaza flotilla activists

Supporters of the activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla (Michael Varaklas/AP)

The French government is asking prosecutors to investigate Israel’s alleged violent mistreatment of activists from a flotilla to Gaza, potentially opening a route for criminal proceedings.

France had already announced an indefinite ban from French territory of Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, for what it called his “unspeakable” behaviour toward flotilla activists while they were in Israeli detention, after they attempted to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.