After drone attack, Italy sends navy frigate to assist Gaza aid flotilla

Rome: Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto ordered a navy frigate to assist a Gaza-bound flotilla after organisers claimed their boats were targeted by drones near Greece.

According to the Global Sumud Flotilla, more than a dozen blasts were heard late Tuesday, with “unidentified objects” landing on the vessels and causing damage.

Crosetto said he had authorised the deployment of the frigate Fasan, which had been operating north of Crete under Operation Safe Sea, and confirmed the ship was heading toward the area for possible rescue efforts.

The flotilla, which departed from Barcelona earlier this month, is attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian supplies. Israel, however, has already blocked two such missions in recent months and has vowed to prevent this convoy from reaching the territory, AFP reported.

The Global Sumud Flotilla reported that several of its vessels experienced explosions on Tuesday, with unidentified objects dropped onto or near the boats, causing damage and disrupting communications. The group accused Israel of putting more than 500 unarmed civilians at risk, including activists from 45 countries such as Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he had requested assurances from Israel regarding the safety of Italian nationals as well as members of parliament and MEPs travelling with the flotilla.

According to a statement from his ministry, Tajani stressed to Israel that any action by its forces must fully respect international law and be carried out with maximum caution. The Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv has also been instructed to repeat its demand that the Israeli government ensure the complete protection of those on board.

The Global Sumud Flotilla now consists of 51 vessels, most of them positioned near the Greek island of Crete.

Organisers said some of the boats due to join the mission had already come under suspected drone attacks in Tunisia. The flotilla, which identifies as pro-Palestinian, stresses that it is an independent initiative with no ties to governments or political parties. Its name, Sumud, comes from the Arabic word for “resilience.”

The mission is unfolding against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing offensive on Gaza City, aimed at dismantling Hamas after nearly two years of conflict. According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, figures deemed credible by the UN, Israeli operations have killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians.