Newsletters
Italy's navy will cease escorting the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla once it reaches 150 nautical miles from Gaza's coast, with organizers condemning the withdrawal as "sabotage" of their humanitarian mission, Italian and flotilla officials said on Tuesday.
The Italian frigate Alpino, which has been shadowing the aid convoy of more than 40 civilian boats, will issue a "final call" offering activists the opportunity to board the naval vessel before entering what Italy designated as a "critical zone," according to Italy's General Staff.
The flotilla, carrying parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, aims to break Israel's blockade of the Palestinian enclave to deliver humanitarian aid.
Global Sumud Flotilla organizers accused Rome of attempting to "demoralize and fracture a peaceful humanitarian mission that governments have failed to take on themselves."
"Let us be clear: this is not protection. This is sabotage," the flotilla said in a statement. "This is cowardice dressed up as diplomacy."
The group argued that if Italy genuinely sought to protect lives, it would "use its naval fleet to ensure the safe passage of peaceful volunteers to Gaza, to enforce international law and deliver life-saving aid" rather than act as "Israel's enabler."
Organizers emphasized that "every single participant on board came with full knowledge of the risks," adding they were present because "it is far more dangerous to remain silent in the face of genocide, starvation, and collective punishment than it is to sail carrying humanitarian aid."
The Italian General Staff said the flotilla is expected to reach the 150-nautical-mile boundary at approximately 2 a.m. local time Wednesday, based on current speed and route calculations.
"The Alpino frigate, in accordance with given instructions, will not cross this boundary, thus ensuring that the safety of those on board is not endangered in any way," the statement said.
The frigate will remain stationed at the boundary, ready for "possible assistance and rescue interventions," officials said. Italian media reported that Alpino began sending initial messages to the flotilla's vessels Tuesday afternoon.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto urged activists to consider the possibility of a ceasefire under new U.S. mediation efforts and to pursue alternative methods for delivering their aid.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed in a Tuesday television appearance on LA7 that the Italian navy would not escort the flotilla if it attempts to break Israel's blockade.
Italian spokeswoman for the flotilla Maria Elena Delia said activists had been informed about the government's plans to withdraw to avoid "a diplomatic incident" with Israel but confirmed the flotilla had no intention of heeding Italy's warnings.
Despite Italy's withdrawal, organizers vowed to proceed with their mission.
"The flotilla sails onward. The Italian navy will not derail this mission," the group stated. "The demand to break the blockade cannot be retracted, and our moral responsibility cannot be cast out to sea."
The statement emphasized that Israel's blockade is "illegal and criminal," adding: "The world's silence is unbearable. If the Italian government wants to be remembered for its courage, it should sail with us."
The flotilla noted that its continued journey represents what "governments have failed to do and ordinary citizens are now forced to undertake."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on the Global Sumud Flotilla to halt its mission Wednesday, warning that attempting to break Israel's naval blockade could jeopardize fragile peace prospects following President Donald Trump's proposed Middle East plan.
"With the Middle East peace plan proposed by U.S. President Trump, hope has finally emerged for an agreement that will end the war and the suffering of Palestinian civilians and bring stability to the region," Meloni said in a written statement.
"This hope rests on a fragile balance that many would be happy to upset," she added.
The prime minister expressed concern that "the flotilla's attempt to breach the Israeli naval blockade could be an excuse for this," adding: "For this reason, I believe the flotilla should stop now and accept one of the various proposals offered for the safe delivery of aid."
Meloni warned that any other choice "risks becoming an excuse to hinder peace, fuel conflict, and thus harm the people of Gaza who they claim to want to help. Now is the time for seriousness and responsibility."
The Italian delegation aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla condemned the General Staff's announcement, characterizing it as an "attempt to divide the movement and sabotage."
The Global Sumud Flotilla announced Tuesday evening that its vessels are now 175 nautical miles (324 kilometers) from Gaza and will enter a high-risk zone overnight, with organizers warning that "our safety depends on the world watching."
Israeli authorities are preparing to intercept the convoy, with plans to transfer activists to a large warship and tow the vessels to the port of Ashdod, according to Israel's official broadcaster KAN. The report noted that some vessels may sink during the operation.
"An attack on the flotilla is an attack on Palestine," organizers said, calling for international attention and mass mobilizations in solidarity. They demanded safe passage for the convoy carrying humanitarian and medical supplies.
KAN reported that the flotilla has entered Israel's interception zone, with the Israeli navy preparing to seize the ships. Israel has ruled out allowing the flotilla to reach Gaza, according to political directives.
This marks the first time in years that dozens of ships have sailed together toward Gaza, which has been under Israeli blockade for approximately 18 years.
The enclave is home to about 2.4 million Palestinians.
Israel tightened the siege further on March 2 by closing all border crossings and blocking food, medicine and aid, pushing Gaza into famine despite aid trucks accumulating at its borders, according to humanitarian organizations.
The Israeli military operation in Gaza since October 2023 has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to health authorities. The bombardment has rendered the enclave uninhabitable and led to starvation and the spread of diseases.
1 min read
1 min read
