Why did Italy send a frigate to Gaza Navy?

With more than 50 boats, activists are trying to break the naval blockade at the Gaza Strip. Now they report being attacked by fear.

Italy's Defence Minister, Guido Cronetto, announced that the ship “The Italian Navy's Fasan” will help with possible rescue operations. About 50 navy ships Sumud are currently located near the Greek island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Taani had earlier called on Israel to ensure the safety of the fleet. Among pro-Palestinian activists of the so-called “Flotilla Global Sumud” includes Italian “and members of the Italian Parliament and the European Parliament”, Taani said.

Reports of new fears attacks

Activists aboard ships of the so-called “Global Flotilla Sumud” blame Israel for drone attacks and stun grenades, and perhaps even chemicals carried out at night. Unidentified “ ” which fell on decks caused damage. A video posted on the fleet's Instagram page shows an explosion reportedly filmed by ship “Spectre”

Crosetto strongly condemned the attacks in general, but he did not blame anyone. Benedhetta Scuder, an Italian member of the European Parliament on board, told Italian broadcaster RAI that the fears had thrown stun grenades. One of them struck the mast of her sailboat, completely damaging the main sail. “We are in international waters south of Crete and we were attacked for three hours without any intruders, the parliamentary said.

The Codepink organisation reported at least 11 attacks. An activist reported “15 or 16 fears”. Polish MP Franek Sterzewski, who is aboard one of the ships, wrote on X that there had been 13 attacks on a total of ten ships, including his own. Three ships were damaged. /Periscopi/

Fleet Destination Gaza Belt

Activists want to break Israel's naval blockade in the Palestinian-populated coastal region and symbolically hand in humanitarian aid. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman reiterated that Israel will take all necessary steps to prevent (fly) from entering the fighting zone and preventing any violations of a legitimate maritime blockade”. At the same time, he cited an offer to send humanitarian aid to Gaza through Israeli territory, which had been rejected.

In June and July, Israel had prevented two attempts by activists to take humanitarian aid from the sea at the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army banned activists' ships, arrested the crews, and expelled them from the country. /dw