Italy sends warship to accompany Gaza flotilla following Israeli attack
Italy is sending a ship to accompany the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, which said its activists remain shaken but determined following an Israeli attack on Wednesday morning.
Organisers of the expedition, which is attempting to carry aid to the Gaza Strip, shared footage this morning that appears to show an explosion that detonated on one of the flotilla's vessels.
Late on Tuesday, activists heard explosions and saw drones that targeted some of their boats, currently situated off Greece.
"Multiple drones, unidentified objects dropped, communications jammed and explosions heard from a number of boats," the Global Sumud Flotilla said.
Later on Wednesday afternoon, Italy said it was sending assistance to aid Italian citizens on board.
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"I have authorised the immediate intervention of the Navy's frigate Fasan, which was sailing north of Crete and is heading towards the area," Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said in a statement.
He said that, though the perpetrators of this drone attack were "unidentified at this time", he was deploying the Fasan as part of the Italian maritime surveillance operation "Mare Sicuro".
Israel has not commented on the incident, but has in recent days stepped up its threats against the flotilla, accusing organisers, without evidence, of supporting Hamas and of pursuing "a violent course of action".
Bringing together more than 300 activists from 44 countries, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, the civilian flotilla is the largest maritime aid convoy to head for Gaza since Israel began its genocide of Palestinians in October 2023.
Several on board the flotilla told Middle East Eye that they were still disturbed by the incident.
"I knew what I signed up for when I decided to go on this flotilla, I know what Israel is capable of, and I know what Israel does to peaceful people," said Tommy Marcus, an American activist.
Marcus said that while he would love to put on his "badass face" after the explosions, he admitted that he had feared for his own life and had had little sleep since.
'I know what Israel is capable of, and I know what Israel does to peaceful people'
- Tommy Marcus, flotilla activist
Tony La Piccirella, a spokesperson for the Italian delegation on the flotilla, said the Italian government's decision to send a ship was a "victory for the social movement" and came as a result of demonstrations and union action.
"It's still not enough. We are going to be protected as Italians, but we are demanding the respect of international law, we are demanding the protection of people in Palestine," he said.
"It means that we have to keep going, pushing the governments, because we are faster than them in terms of conscience, in terms of action."
The flotilla was previously attacked by projectiles launched by drones while anchored in Tunisia on 8 and 9 September.
The Tunisian government described the attacks as "premeditated" but Israel has not directly taken responsibility for the attacks.
Polish MP Franek Sterczewski said on X that there had been "13 attacks" on 10 ships in total, and that three of them had been "damaged".
The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail almost a month ago, with more than 500 volunteers from around the world has now survived it's third attack by Israeli drones, this time in vicinity of the Greek island Crete.
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) September 24, 2025
Participants say they're happy to still be heading toward Gaza pic.twitter.com/mNeJhVV30P
On Wednesday, Italy called on Israel to ensure the safety of those on board the flotilla, emphasising that the flotilla was "in international waters" and that several Italians, including parliamentarians, were on board.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, currently in New York for the UN General Assembly, reiterated through the Italian embassy in Israel "the request to the Israeli government to guarantee the absolute protection" of the flotilla participants, according to a statement.
The UN itself said it was calling for an urgent investigation into reports of an attack on the flotilla.
Sumeyra Akdeniz-Ordu, a Turkish-German organiser, said hearing the explosions made her think of how the population of Gaza had to endure something similar on a much larger scale for almost two years.
"They cannot count on any safety or security. They are almost waiting for another sound, another loud explosion. It can come from anywhere - and the same happened yesterday night, we were looking on the right side, another explosion, 10 minutes after this on the left side, another explosion," she said.
"And it was a weird feeling because I knew that was the beginning of the psychological warfare. But we are for the Palestinians there and I cannot imagine the feeling for them to witness this for almost two years."
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