France Opens War Crimes Probe Into Gaza Flotilla Abuse
The probe was triggered by a referral from French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who invoked Article 40 of France's Code of Criminal Procedure after receiving accounts of alleged violence against French nationals aboard the vessel, which was intercepted by the Israeli navy off Cyprus on May 18.
Barrot told France Inter on Friday that he had personally referred the matter to the public prosecutor following information he received regarding the alleged mistreatment of French activists during and after the interception. Several activists who claim to have been subjected to torture have since been interviewed by investigators.
The case drew international attention after Israeli authorities released footage showing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir moving among detained activists who were kneeling in tightly packed formations with their hands zip-tied — images that provoked widespread global condemnation. France subsequently barred Ben-Gvir from entering the country.
The investigation is being conducted under allegations of torture as defined by the 1984 UN Convention Against Torture, as well as war crimes — a legal framing that signals Paris is treating the incident with the utmost gravity.
The move makes France one of the first European nations to pursue formal criminal proceedings in connection with the flotilla interception, adding significant judicial weight to the mounting international pressure over the incident.
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