Occupied Palestine (QNN)- The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) says Israeli police and prison officials committed sexual assaults against participants kidnapped after Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla.
In a detailed public statement, the coalition said the violations followed Israel’s attack on flotilla vessels in international waters and the forcible detention of hundreds of peaceful civilians. The FFC described the acts as grave crimes under international human rights and humanitarian law.
The coalition called for immediate, independent investigations and full accountability for all those responsible.
The case became public on December 21, 2025. German journalist Anna Liedtke revealed at an international conference that Israeli personnel raped her during detention after she resisted a forced strip search. The FFC said it is providing support and following her lead on public disclosure.
The coalition said Liedtke is not the only survivor. It confirmed that Italian journalist Vincenzo Fullone and Australian activist Surya McEwen also endured sexual violations while held by Israeli authorities.
The FFC said fear, trauma, and institutional power make it difficult for survivors to speak publicly. It expects more testimonies to emerge as support expands and pressure grows.
The coalition placed the assaults within Israel's "long-standing system of violence and impunity." It said Israeli soldiers, police, and prison guards have repeatedly committed sexual abuse against Palestinians in detention, as documented by Palestinian, Israeli, and international human rights organizations.
Recent investigations by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights showed the systematic use of sexual torture against Palestinian abductees. These practices intensified during Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and constitute torture under international law.
The statement also cited United Nations findings on widespread sexual and gender-based violence by Israeli forces in detention settings. Amnesty International has classified such acts as war crimes.
The FFC criticized major media outlets for failing to report consistently on these crimes. It said this silence erases survivors, distorts public understanding, and enables continued abuse.
The coalition said impunity is structural and embedded in Israel’s political and legal system. It said investigations rarely lead to prosecutions and often shield perpetrators instead of protecting victims.
The FFC said it will pursue accountability through international legal mechanisms, human rights reporting, and coordinated advocacy. It called on the United Nations to demand access to detention facilities and launch an independent inquiry. It urged the International Criminal Court to investigate all reports of sexual violence and torture in Israeli detention.
