Italy has deployed a navy ship to help Gaza-bound “Sumud” Flotilla after activists said several boats had been attacked by drones off Greece, reported Reuters.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said it was targeted on Tuesday night with 13 explosions, communication jamming, more than 15 drones hovering overhead, and unidentified objects dropped on 10 boats, blaming Israel and insisting they would not be intimidated and were determined to continue their mission.
In response, the Italian Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, strongly condemned the incident, saying that “perpetrators remain unidentified.”
In a statement, he said that the multi-role frigate Fasan of the Italian Navy, which was sailing north of Crete, was “already heading towards the area for possible rescue operations” in order to provide assistance to the Italian citizens aboard the flotilla.
The Global Sumud Flotilla includes 51 civilian vessels, carrying several lawyers and activists from around the world, including the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. It set sail from Barcelona in late August, in an attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
The flotilla has repeatedly come under Israel’s criticism, accusing its activists of complicity with Hamas. After Tuesday’s incident, the Israeli Foreign Ministry warned that “Israel will take the necessary measures” if the flotilla refused to unload aid in an Israeli port.
Two weeks ago, the Sumud Flotilla reported drone attacks while stationed in Tunisia.
