Netanyahu and 34 Israelis Have Gone on Trial for Torture of Flotilla Activist

A landmark trial accusing Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 34 senior political and military figures of crimes against humanity had its first formal hearing in Istanbul today.

Turkish prosecutors have charged 35 Israeli defendants, including Netanyahu and ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Israel Katz, with torture, unlawful deprivation of liberty, aggravated robbery, vessel hijacking and crimes against humanity in relation to last year’s Gaza aid flotilla. They are also accused of genocide in Palestine.

The trial had its first formal hearing this morning following the issuing of arrest warrants in July and Turkish requests for an Interpol red notice in August. Charges are being pursued under universal jurisdiction, which allows countries to address international crimes occurring abroad. 

The case focuses primarily on incidents surrounding the illegal interception of boats from the 2025 Global Sumud Flotilla mission. 

On 31 August 2025, more than 50 ships carrying around 500 participants from 44 countries set off from Barcelona to break Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza and deliver aid to those trapped there.

The flotilla was subject to a number of drone attacks, most notably off the coasts of Tunisia and Greece, before being illegally intercepted by Israel in international waters. Those on board were detained and have accused Israeli forces of subjecting them to human rights abuses including rape, assault, degrading treatment, withholding of medical care and more.

Turkey negotiated the release of hundreds of participants, including a Novara Media contributor, on charter flights to Istanbul, where legal and medical teams gathered evidence of severe mistreatment. 

“This trial is not just about seeking justice for the 101 victims represented in this case; it is a fundamental challenge to the doctrine of impunity,” said the Global Sumud Flotilla legal team. “When states use armed force against unarmed civilians attempting to deliver life-saving relief to a starved population, individuals within that chain of command must face judicial scrutiny.”

The trial in Istanbul comes as prosecutors in Rome, Italy, expand an investigation into Israeli officials for the mistreatment of 50 Italian participants of Global Sumud Flotilla missions. Officials including Ben-Gvir, Katz, IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir and 11 others are being investigated for suspected torture, kidnapping, personal injury, robbery, property damage and damage causing danger of shipwreck.