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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned on Wednesday a drone attack on the Global Sumud flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza while simultaneously criticizing the mission itself as "unnecessary" and "dangerous."
Speaking to Italian journalists in New York during the United Nations 80th General Assembly, Meloni addressed the overnight drone strikes that targeted the flotilla in Greek search-and-rescue waters.
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"I completely condemn the attack on the flotilla that took place at night," Meloni said. "We are conducting our own investigation to determine who is responsible. The government sent a frigate, but no military force is envisaged."
However, the Italian leader sharply criticized the aid mission's approach, arguing that entering a war zone was an unnecessary risk. "All of this is unnecessary, dangerous and irresponsible," Meloni stated. "There is no need to put your safety at risk by entering a war zone to deliver aid to Gaza that the Italian government can deliver in a few hours."
Meloni also directed criticism at Italian opposition parliamentarians participating in the flotilla, saying she believed "a call for responsibility should be made, especially when parliamentarians are involved." She added, "I remind you that they are paid to work in state institutions, not to force institutions to work for them."
The prime minister accused the opposition of using the Gaza issue to attack her government, calling it "irresponsible."
The prime minister revealed that Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani is working on an alternative mediation proposal involving delivering aid to Gaza through the Greek Cypriot administration to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and that they are awaiting a response from the flotilla.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto had earlier condemned the drone attacks and confirmed that an Italian Navy vessel was dispatched to the region to assist Italian citizens.
Italy's left-wing opposition parties criticized both the drone attack and the Meloni government's response. Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein accused the government of failing to protect Italians participating in the flotilla, while Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte called the attacks "unacceptable."
Conte harshly criticized Meloni's New York statements, saying: "I was speechless in the face of Meloni's serious words. In the face of this shame we are witnessing, she blames those who take action against the genocide in Gaza and those who are attacked on boats flying the Italian flag in international waters."
Opposition lawmakers from the Democratic Party, Five Star Movement, and Green and Left Alliance staged a sit-in protest in the lower house of parliament to demonstrate against the flotilla attack.
When questioned about recent Russian violations of NATO airspace, Meloni emphasized avoiding escalation while noting that military aircraft violating airspace are typically shot down according to standard rules. She referenced the 2015 incident when Türkiye shot down a Russian aircraft that violated its airspace during the Syrian conflict, noting it did not lead to escalation.
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