Australia to probe assault claims by Gaza flotilla activists against Israeli forces

Article excerpt

Australian activists are pressing formal complaints against Israeli forces, claiming they were kidnapped, raped, and tortured during detention in May after their Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted. The allegations include sexual assault and abuse during the six-day detention. Australian officials have launched an investigation into the incidents. The activists' accounts add to mounting scrutiny of Israeli military conduct during the interception, which drew international criticism over both the methods used and the treatment of detainees afterward.