Italy’s navy will stop following the international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza once it gets within 150 nautical miles (278km) of the besieged territory’s shore, the Italian defence ministry said on Tuesday.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of more than 40 civilian boats carrying parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, aims to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian enclave.
Once the convoy reaches the 150 nautical miles limit, the Italian frigate accompanying it will discontinue the journey, “as communicated several times in recent days”, the ministry said in a statement.
The ship will issue two warnings to activists, with the second and final one foreseen at about midnight GMT, when the flotilla is expected to get within the stated distance, the statement added.
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Earlier on Tuesday, an Italian spokeswoman for the flotilla, Maria Elena Delia, said activists had been informed of the government’s plans to have the navy ship stop and turn back to avoid “a diplomatic incident” with Israel.
She said the flotilla had no intention of heeding Italy’s warnings not to get closer to the shore.
Italy and Spain deployed navy vessels last week to assist the flotilla after it was hit by drones armed with stun grenades and irritants in international waters off Greece, but without any intention to engage militarily.
Ms Delia said activists were bracing for another strike on Tuesday.. “Israel will probably attack us tonight, because all the signals point to this happening,” she said in a video on Instagram.
Israel did not respond to flotilla accusations that it was behind last week’s attacks, but it has vowed to use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza, arguing that its blockade is legal as part of its war against Hamas militants.
Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto has said he expects flotilla boats to be intercepted in the open sea and for activists to face arrest.
On Tuesday, Mr Crosetto made a “last appeal” to flotilla members to accept a compromise proposal to drop aid in Cyprus and avoid a confrontation with Israeli forces.
Flotilla representatives have repeatedly refused the offer.
Israel began its Gaza offensive after the October 7th, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
The offensive has since resulted in the deaths of more than 66,000 Palestinians, Gaza health authorities say. - Reuters
