France has referred allegations of abuse against French participants in the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla by Israel to prosecutors, as lawyers representing the activists accused the government of responding too slowly and attempting to minimise the scope of the case.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced on Friday that a consular report containing testimonies from activists had been forwarded to the public prosecutor.
The report includes allegations of "sexual violence", "beatings" and "repeated insults" suffered by French nationals after Israel intercepted the flotilla in international waters.
However, lawyers representing around 30 French activists involved in the mission rejected an invitation from Barrot to meet privately and away from the media, arguing that the government's intervention came too late.
"The invitation came too late and, in one sense, was deceptive," lawyer Hana Bouchareb told The New Arab .
Bouchareb criticised what she described as efforts by French authorities to focus on a video published by extremist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir rather than the wider allegations surrounding the flotilla.
The footage showed flotilla participants handcuffed and kneeling while being insulted, prompting international condemnation and a French entry ban on Ben-Gvir.
But Bouchareb argued that the alleged abuses began much earlier
"The attack on the flotilla began long before this video. It started with the illegal interception of the French and international sailors off the coast of Cyprus," she said.
In a statement released on Friday, the flotilla lawyers said French government statements "deceived no one" and were made only after a "global scandal" erupted following the publication of the Ben-Gvir video and the circulation of activists' testimonies.
The lawyers noted that no official condemnation followed the flotilla's first interception despite reports of violence.
The statement also alleged that France had "supported Israel since the beginning of the genocide" through exports of military equipment to Israel and accused the government of reinforcing the criminalisation of solidarity activism with Palestine inside France.
"We believe the government was forced to act after the videos spread, because public opinion was deeply affected," Bouchareb said.
"The proof is that we had previously contacted the French foreign ministry during the launch of the first flotilla and denounced acts of violence, without any strong public response from the government."
She also criticised Barrot's previous comments distancing France from the flotilla initiative.
"Mr Barrot reminded people in several interventions that he did not support the flotilla participants' action and that he considered the initiative unhelpful and disruptive to consular services. Those remarks were hurtful to the activists," she said.
Bouchareb argued that some of the alleged abuses "may have happened in the way we know today because the French authorities did not immediately set clear and firm limits for Israel".
"We expected a firmer position, publicly, politically, and diplomatically," she added.
Despite the government's decision to refer the case to prosecutors, the activists' legal team said it would pursue its own legal action.
"We are currently preparing a complaint separate from the one being pursued by the French government," Bouchareb said.
"Our complaint will be submitted before the Paris court in the coming days on behalf of those participants who wish to bring the matter before the judiciary."
Bouchareb said the legal team had collected testimonies describing "serious physical effects and psychological suffering", including beatings, sleep deprivation and denial of medication.
She added that some testimonies "also speak of incidents of a sexual nature".
Since Tuesday, France has raised the possibility of legal action through French courts or support for European sanctions amid pressure from left-wing lawmakers.
Two French activists who returned from the flotilla previously told The New Arab that participants held aboard what they described as "prison boats" were subjected to beatings, insults and psychological torture. They also alleged that around 16 incidents of sexual assault had been documented.
Earlier this month, activists freed from Israeli detention following the interception of a Gaza -bound aid flotilla have reported that they were subjected to physical and sexual abuse, with at least 15 reporting sexual assaults, including rape.
"At least 15 cases of sexual assaults, including rape. Shot with rubber bullets at close range. Tens of people’s bones broken," organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla posted on Telegram.