German Activist Alleges Sexual Assault During Israeli Detention After Gaza Aid Flotilla
Anna Liedtke, a 25-year-old German human rights activist, has accused Israeli authorities of sexual assault during her detention following the interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in October 2025. In an interview with The Guardian published on June 4, 2026, Liedtke detailed that she was subjected to forced full-body searches and sexual violence while held in Israeli prisons. She and about 100 other activists were aboard a ship sailing from southern Italy to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip when Israeli forces seized the vessel in international waters on October 8, 2025, and transferred the activists to Ashdod port. Liedtke was detained for five days before being deported to Jordan.
Liedtke claims that upon arrival in Israel, she was forced to undergo a strip search in an area visible to passing men, despite her refusal. She was later taken to Ketziot Prison for another forced strip search and then transferred to Givon Prison, where she alleges the most severe assault occurred. According to Liedtke, female guards forcibly removed her clothing, compelled her to kneel, and committed an act constituting rape under Israeli law, while male guards laughed nearby and her mouth was covered to prevent screaming. She also suggested the incident might have been recorded on security or body cameras.
Throughout her detention, Liedtke reported harsh conditions including sleep deprivation, repeated cell searches, lack of clean drinking water, and humiliation. She heard screams from other prison sections and believes the treatment aimed to deter activists from continuing their pro-Palestinian efforts. After her release to Jordan, Liedtke disclosed the allegations publicly in December 2025, prompting other women from the flotilla to come forward with similar claims.
Her lawyer, Mona Haddad from the Adalah organization, has filed an official complaint with Israel’s Attorney General, the Prison Service, and the Prisoner Investigation Unit, demanding a criminal investigation. Haddad described the allegations as part of a broader pattern of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees and others. The Israeli military denied the abuse claims and referred inquiries to the Prison Service, which categorically rejected all allegations of rape, sexual assault, or systematic abuse by its personnel. As of the report’s publication, no criminal investigation has been announced by Israeli authorities, nor have any public evidences been presented to substantiate Liedtke’s claims.
