European countries share evidence of alleged torture of Gaza flotilla activists Ten European countries have shared evidence with international bodies supporting allegations that Israeli forces committed kidnapping, sexual assault and other abuses against activists aboard Gaza-bound aid flotillas. The accusations relate to the interception of the vessels and the activists' subsequent detention.

Israeli authorities have not yet issued a detailed response to the latest evidence. Ten European countries have submitted evidence to international human-rights bodies backing allegations that Israeli forces mistreated activists aboard aid flotillas bound for Gaza, officials said Monday. The claims include kidnapping, sexual assault and other abuses said to have occurred during and after the vessels were intercepted at sea. The activists, drawn from several nationalities, were detained after Israeli forces boarded the boats, which organizers said were carrying humanitarian supplies toward Gaza.

Governments involved in the submission said they acted after receiving detailed testimony from citizens who took part in the voyage, and that the evidence had been compiled over several weeks. Israeli authorities have previously said flotilla interceptions are carried out in line with maritime security procedures and have disputed earlier accounts of mistreatment. No formal response to Monday's submission had been issued by Israeli officials, and it remained unclear whether any international body would open a formal inquiry into the claims.