Nazareth: The legal rights organization Adalah has called on Israeli authorities to immediately launch a criminal investigation into serious allegations made by a German journalist. The journalist alleges that, while detained in Israel’s Givon Prison, she was subjected to sexual abuse, physical violence, and degrading treatment.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Adalah said it had filed formal complaints regarding the case with Israel’s Attorney General, the legal adviser to the Prison Service, the unit responsible for investigating prison staff, and the administration of Givon Prison. The organization called for those responsible to be identified and held accountable.
According to the organization, the incident dates back to October, when the Israeli Navy intercepted the vessels of the ‘Global Sumud Flotilla’ in international waters. The campaign, which set sail from various ports in Europe and Africa to challenge the blockade imposed on Gaza, involved more than 500 activists.
According to Adalah, the German journalist, identified only by the initials ‘A.L.,’ stated in her testimony that while being transferred from the port to Ketziot Prison in the Negev, she was kept handcuffed for an extended period, blindfolded, and subjected to verbal and physical abuse, as well as threats.
The journalist’s testimony also alleges that she was subjected to degrading treatment while in detention at Givon Prison and became a victim of sexual abuse, along with other serious violations.
Adalah stated that, given the seriousness of the allegations, an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the matter is essential. The organization believes that if the allegations are proven true, the case could constitute a serious violation of both domestic and international law.
Meanwhile, a team of lawyers and international law experts has also appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to expand the scope of its Palestine-related investigation to include the alleged abuses reported by activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla.