French authorities have opened a preliminary investigation into allegations of war crimes and torture stemming from claims that French nationals were mistreated by Israeli forces during last month’s interception of an anti-Israel flotilla headed toward Gaza, according to a report by Reuters.

The inquiry was formally confirmed Friday by France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT), which said the matter was referred for legal review after the French Foreign Ministry submitted an official report on May 28.

The referral was made under Article 40 of France’s criminal procedure code, which obligates public officials to report suspected criminal conduct to judicial authorities whenever evidence of a potential offense comes to their attention.

The allegations arise from Israel’s interception of a flotilla whose participants said they were attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza while also challenging Israel’s naval blockade of the coastal enclave.

Reuters reported that the investigation has been assigned to the OCLCH, France’s specialized agency responsible for investigating crimes against humanity, war crimes, and hate-related offenses.

Israeli officials have strongly denied accusations of wrongdoing and rejected claims that passengers were subjected to abuse during the operation. Reuters noted that it was unable to independently verify the allegations made by flotilla participants.

The incident has also drawn criticism from several foreign governments. According to Reuters, officials in Italy, Germany, Ireland, and Canada have publicly condemned Israel’s handling of the flotilla and voiced concerns over the interception.

{Matzav.com}