Italy To End Support For Gaza Flotilla As Israeli Threat Looms

Last Updated:October 01, 2025, 05:28 IST

Italy has urged flotilla members to accept a compromise proposal to drop aid in a Cyprus port and avoid a confrontation with Israeli forces.

Italy has urged flotilla members to accept a compromise proposal to drop aid in a Cyprus port and avoid a confrontation with Israeli forces.

Italy on Tuesday announced that it would stop tracking the international flotilla that was trying to aid Gaza with a military vessel, leaving the activists at risk of Israeli attacks.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, an organisation trying to get aid into the besieged enclave using ships setting sail from ports across the Mediterranean, is carrying more than 40 civilian boats with over 500 people, including parliamentarians, lawyers, and Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.

The Italian defence ministry said in a statement that once the convoy reaches within 150 nautical miles of Gaza’s shoreline, the Italian frigate accompanying it will stop.

According to a report by Reuters, Italy has urged flotilla members to accept a compromise proposal to drop aid in a Cyprus port and avoid a confrontation with Israeli forces.

Italian spokeswoman for the flotilla, Maria Elena Delia, said activists were bracing for another strike in the coming hours. “Israel will probably attack us tonight, because all the signals point to this happening,” she said in a video on Instagram.

Reuters quoted Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto as saying he expects flotilla boats to be intercepted in the open sea and activists to face arrest. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has also urged the flotilla to stop.

“We say again: the flotilla sails onwards. The Italian navy will not derail this mission. The humanitarian demand to break the blockade cannot be walked back to port,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement.

Last week, Italy and Spain had deployed navy vessels to assist the flotilla after it was struck with stun grenades and irritants in international waters off Greece, allegedly by Israel.

However, Israel has not responded to the claims.

Last week, Israel’s foreign ministry in a post on X said that they would take “necessary measures” to stop the flotilla from reaching Gaza. They further said that it would, however, be willing to transfer the aid from the flotilla to Gaza through the Ashkelon port in Israel.

“If the flotilla continues to reject Israel’s peaceful proposal, Israel will take the necessary measures to prevent its entry into the combat zone and to stop any violation of a lawful naval blockade, while making every possible effort to ensure the safety of its passengers,” the ministry added.

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