France has asked prosecutor to investigate treatment of its nationals on activist flotilla

PARIS - France has asked for the public prosecutor to investigate the treatment of French nationals who were part of a recent activist flotilla heading for Gaza, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Friday.

"Based on a report I requested from our Consul General in Turkey, who informed me of sexual violence, exposure to the cold, beatings, and repeated humiliation of French nationals, all of these acts are likely to constitute criminal offenses (and) I decided yesterday to refer the matter to the public prosecutor," Barrot told France Inter radio.

Organisers of a flotilla that was detained last week during an attempt to bring aid to Gaza said activists were subjected to abuse, with several hospitalized with injuries and at least 15 reporting sexual assaults including rape. The activists have since been released.

(Reporting by John Irish and Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Makini Brice)

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 3:10 AM.