The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has accused Israeli police and prison officials of sexually assaulting and raping several individuals detained after Israeli forces intercepted flotilla vessels attempting to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The coalition characterized these alleged abuses as serious violations of international law and has called for an independent international investigation.
In its statement, the coalition reported that the assaults occurred following the seizure of flotilla ships in international waters, leading to the detention of hundreds of civilians, including journalists and activists. Israel has yet to publicly address these specific allegations.
The accusations gained prominence after Anna Liedtke, a German journalist aboard the flotilla vessel Conscience, shared her experience at an international conference on December 21, revealing that she was raped while in Israeli custody. Liedtke stated that the assault took place after she resisted a forced strip search. The coalition confirmed it is providing support to her following her disclosure.
Additionally, at least two other participants, Italian journalist Vincenzo Fullone and Australian activist Surya McEwen, have reported incidents of sexual violence during their detention by Israeli authorities. The coalition anticipates that more accounts may surface and stated that it would honor the survivors’ choices regarding public disclosures.
“These acts constitute egregious violations of human dignity and grave breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law,” the coalition asserted, calling for “immediate, independent and credible accountability.”
The coalition framed the alleged assaults within a broader context of what it describes as a long-standing pattern of abuse by Israeli security forces against detainees, especially Palestinians. It referenced findings from various Palestinian and international human rights organizations that document instances of sexual violence, humiliating searches, and other abuses within Israeli detention facilities.
Reports from the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights have claimed systemic sexual torture against Palestinian detainees since the beginning of Israel’s war in Gaza. Furthermore, United Nations bodies and human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have documented instances of sexual and gender-based violence in Israeli detention, identifying some abuses as potential war crimes.
Israel consistently rejects claims of systematic abuse and asserts that its security forces operate within the framework of the law. The Israeli government maintains that allegations of misconduct are investigated, although human rights organizations have criticized these inquiries as ineffective.
The coalition condemned Israeli institutions for fostering a “culture of impunity” and expressed skepticism about the reliability of domestic accountability mechanisms. It intends to pursue avenues of international legal recourse, including engaging with the International Criminal Court and United Nations mechanisms.
In its statement, the coalition called on the United Nations and member states to seek access to Israeli detention facilities, urged the ICC to investigate allegations of sexual violence and torture, and appealed to media organizations for increased coverage of alleged abuses against both Palestinians and international activists.
“These crimes cannot be separated from the broader context of occupation and denial of Palestinian rights,” the group concluded.
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