World

Anna Liedtke, Gaza flotilla activist, files rape complaint over Israeli detention

Herz — World Desk · 15 July 2026 at 13:55 · 30s summary · 3 min read

The essentials

Anna Liedtke, a 25-year-old German activist arrested after her boat was intercepted while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, has filed a criminal complaint alleging rape in Israeli custody. According to The Guardian, she claims she was sexually assaulted by female guards during a strip search at Givon Prison in October 2025. More than a dozen participants in the same flotilla have reported similar sexual assaults in detention. A formal complaint has been submitted to Israel's Attorney General. Parallel investigations are underway in Australia and France.

Anna Liedtke alleges she was raped by female guards at Givon Prison during a strip search in October 2025
More than a dozen flotilla participants reported sexual assaults during Israeli detention
A criminal complaint has been filed with Israel's Attorney General
The UN listed Israel on its blacklist for sexual violence in May 2026
Criminal investigations have been opened in Australia and France

Anna Liedtke, militante de la flottille de Gaza, dépose une plainte pour viol en détention israélienne — Department of Commerce and Labor. Bureau of the Census. 7/1/1903-1913, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Anna Liedtke, a 25-year-old German activist, has filed a criminal complaint in Israel for alleged rape suffered during her 2025 detention. The Guardian revealed the filing on July 15, 2026.

What we know

On October 8, 2025, Israeli forces intercepted Liedtke's boat in international waters and brought her to Israel, where she was detained for five days at Givon Prison.

During this detention, Liedtke alleges she underwent three illegal strip searches. During the third, female guards allegedly raped her, with male guards positioned in an adjacent corridor separated by a partially open curtain.

In the days following the alleged assault, Liedtke shared her account with friends and doctors. In December 2025, she became the first flotilla participant to publicly testify about rape in Israeli detention.

Her Israeli lawyer, Muna Haddad, filed a formal criminal complaint addressed to Israel's Attorney General, the legal advisor to Israel Prison Service—the Israeli government agency managing civil detention centers—and to Yahas, an internal unit responsible for disciplinary complaints within the service. The complaint also named the commander of Givon Prison.

Context: the humanitarian flotilla and allegations of assault

The Freedom Flotilla—an international citizen initiative aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea, circumventing the Israeli blockade imposed since 2007—had departed southern Italy on September 30, 2025, aboard a former ferry carrying approximately 100 activists.

More than a dozen participants in this flotilla reported sexual assaults in Israeli detention, most anonymously. Liedtke was the first to testify publicly.

International reaction

In May 2026, the UN listed Israel on its blacklist of perpetrators of sexual violence in armed conflicts, citing abuses by security forces including rapes of male detainees.

In July 2026, the United Kingdom raised concerns about sexual assaults in Israeli detention centers before the UN Security Council.

Australian police have been investigating allegations of rape and torture against flotilla participants since May 2026. French prosecutors have opened an investigation into war crimes concerning alleged torture of French citizens in Israeli detention.

Timeline

May 2010
Freedom Flotilla I: 9 activists killed during Israeli naval interception in international waters—first major international precedent.
The flotilla departs southern Italy with approximately 100 activists bound for Gaza.