France has asked ​for the public prosecutor to ​investigate the treatment of French nationals who were part of a recent activist ​flotilla ‌heading for Gaza, French ⁠Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Friday.

“Based on ‌a report I requested from ⁠our Consul General in Turkey, who informed me of sexual ​violence, exposure to the cold, ‌beatings, and repeated humiliation of French nationals, all of these acts are ‌likely to constitute criminal offences (and) I decided ​yesterday to refer the matter to the public prosecutor,” Barrot told France ​Inter radio.

Read moreFrench Gaza flotilla activists return to Paris, describe ‘violent’ detention by Israel

Organisers of a flotilla ​that was detained last ​week during an attempt to bring aid to ​Gaza said activists were subjected to abuse, with several hospitalised with injuries and at least 15 reporting ⁠sexual assaults, including rape. The activists have since ⁠been ​released.

The lawyers for the ​French flotilla activists said that they would ​file a separate complaint over the violence their clients were subjected to, including ​humiliation, rape and acts of torture.

They declined an invitation from Barrot’s cabinet to discuss the matter, saying in a statement that “the buzz from the minister’s declarations will not ⁠make us forget that the French government has supported the state ⁠of Israel ​since the beginning of the genocide.”

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)