Italy condemns “the attack” on the Gaza Aid flotilla and deploys the frigate

The Italian Defense Minister condemned what he said was a drone attack overnight by unidentified authors on a flotilla trying to break the naval blockade of Israel from Gaza to provide help.

Guido Crosetto also said that he had ordered an Italian naval frigate to head for the 52 boats of the Global Sumud Flatilla (GSF), which are mainly off the coast of Crete, to help Italian citizens on board.

The GSF said that several boats have reported abandoned explosions and unidentified objects, as well as air drones and communications. He accused Israel of a “dangerous escalation”.

The government of Israel has not commented. But he previously said that he would not let the flotilla reach his destination.

The night incident occurred at around 50 km (27 naval miles) south of Crete.

Uncorified video surveillance video sequences published by the GSF showed a man aboard a yacht jumping on the deck after what seemed to be an explosion nearby. An explosion was also visible in a second video which, according to the GSF, was filmed from the Specter ship.

The passengers on the boats said they had asked for help from the Greek coast guard.

A source of a coast guard told the news agency Amna de Greece that a Portuguese ship of the European Union border agency, Frontex, had been sent to the region but that he found no proof of material damage to boats.

Swedish activist for climate change Greta Thunberg, who is one of the eminent pro-Palestinian activists participating in Flatilla, called the incident as “frightening tactics”.

On Monday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry alleged that the flotilla was “organized by Hamas” and called its boats to unload their assistance supplies at the port of Ashkelon for transfer to Gaza.

“Israel will not allow ships to enter an active combat zone and will not allow violation of a legal naval blockade,” he warned.

The GSF said that its objective was to “break the illegal seat on Gaza by the sea, open a humanitarian corridor and end the genocide in the Palestinian people”.

Two weeks ago, he reported that two ships had been targeted in separate drone attacks when he was anchored off Tunisia. Tunisian authorities said they were investigating complaints.

In June, Thunberg was one of the 12 people aboard a help ship for Gaza, Madleen, which was intercepted by Israeli forces about 185 km west of Gaza.

Another ship carrying 21 people, the Handala, was intercepted about 75 km from Gaza in July.

The GSF boats put the sails after experts in the classification of the Integrated Food Security phase (IPC) confirmed that there was a famine in Gaza City and warned that it could spread in the center and south of Gaza in a few weeks.

The Ministry of Health managed by Gaza said that at least 440 Palestinians died of the effects of malnutrition since the start of the war, including 162 since the declaration of famine.

The UN called Israel to allow a large -scale humanitarian response without hindrance that can save lives. As an occupying power, he has an obligation of international law to ensure that sufficient medical foods and supplies reach the entire population of Gaza.

Israel insisted that it acts in accordance with international law and facilitates the entry of aid.

He also challenged the IPC’s conclusions and the figures from the Ministry of Health, and firmly denied allegation – more recently made by a United Nations commission of inquiry – that his forces committed a genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.

The Israeli army launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the attack by Hamas against southern Israel on October 7, 2023, during which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 65,419 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the Ministry of Health of the Territory.