Spanish court expands probe into Israeli commanders over flotilla boarding

Audiencia Nacional judge Francisco de Jorge has widened the scope of the case concerning the Israeli boarding of the Global Sumud flotilla by adding alleged torture, damage and injury offenses that may have taken place on Spanish-flagged vessels. The expansion follows partial appeals by the Partido Comunista de España, Izquierda Unida and private complainants who were aboard those ships. While the court still limits its jurisdiction to incidents on Spanish vessels, it has authorized investigative steps to identify perpetrators of possible torture on Israeli ships and in Israeli detention facilities.

The ruling also partially grants a request to look into alleged misconduct on Israeli vessels after the activists were seized. This follows a July decision that admitted complaints against Israeli chief of staff Ramatcal Eyal Zamires and naval commander Ram Rotberg for illegal detention during the boarding.