Italy Urges Gaza Flotilla To Hand Over Humanitarian Aid After Overnight Drone Attack

Italy has urged the international Gaza-bound flotilla to transfer its humanitarian aid to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem for distribution, following an overnight drone attack that targeted the convoy in international waters.

The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), comprising about 50 civilian vessels carrying aid for Gaza, was attacked by at least 12 drones roughly 30 nautical miles (56 km) off the Greek island of Gavdos.

Explosions were reported on 11 boats, while several vessels reported loss of communication due to jamming. No injuries were reported among the activists, lawyers, and politicians on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed handing over aid in Cyprus to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which would then deliver it to Gaza. Meloni said the plan had the support of Cyprus, Israel, and Italy, and urged the flotilla to accept it. She described the flotilla’s approach as “gratuitous, dangerous, and irresponsible.”

 

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Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto condemned the attack, describing it as carried out by “currently unidentified perpetrators.” He ordered the Italian multi-purpose frigate Fasan, stationed north of Crete, to sail towards the flotilla to assist Italian nationals on board.

The flotilla reported an attack involving stun grenades, chemical dispersal, incendiary devices, and deliberate interference with communications. Two Italian Members of the European Parliament aboard said the assault lasted about three hours until 4 a.m., with loud ABBA music played over ship radios, which they saw as a form of intimidation.

GSF accused Israel and its allies of the attack, calling the incident a “dangerous escalation” and saying it will continue its mission to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.

Israel did not confirm its involvement but reiterated it would not allow vessels to breach the blockade. The Israeli foreign ministry called for the flotilla to deliver aid to an Israeli port, from where it would be transported to Gaza. Israel accused the flotilla of ties to Hamas, claims denied by the organisers.

 

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Earlier this month, the flotilla reported drone strikes on vessels docked in Tunisia, which Israel did not comment on. In June and July, Israeli forces intercepted flotilla vessels trying to reach Gaza.

A Greek coastguard source said the flotilla contacted them around 2 a.m. during the incident but later declined assistance from the EU’s border agency Frontex. A European Commission spokesperson condemned the use of force.

The UN has repeatedly urged Israel to lift the blockade and allow humanitarian aid to Gaza. Gaza’s health ministry says over 65,000 people have died in the conflict, including at least 440 from malnutrition since October 2023, when Hamas attacks killed around 1,200 people in Israel.

References: BBC, CNN

Source: Maritime Shipping News