‘They want to break our will’: Gaza flotilla activist tells of rape in Israeli detention

Anna Liedtke, a Gaza flotilla activist, has filed a criminal complaint in Israel alleging she was raped by female prison guards while in detention. The report highlights broader allegations of abuse against activists intended to silence political dissent.
Why it matters
The allegations raise serious human rights concerns regarding the treatment of political activists in detention and the potential for systemic abuse.
Anna Liedtke pictured in Cologne, Germany. ‘There is no reason for me to be ashamed.’ Anna Liedtke pictured in Cologne, Germany. ‘There is no reason for me to be ashamed.’ Gaza flotilla ‘They want to break our will’: Gaza flotilla activist tells of rape in Israeli detention Anna Liedtke files criminal complaint in Israel over alleged attack by female guards and says abuse was intended to silence campaigners
Emma Graham-Harrison in Jerusalem Wed 15 Jul 2026 09.00 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google T he third time Anna Liedtke was subjected to an illegal strip-search in Israeli detention, female prison guards forced her on to her knees, covered her mouth to stop her screaming and raped her, according to interviews and a criminal complaint filed in Israel .
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