ROME (Dispatches) – Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has taken a bold step to support the Global Sumud Flotilla, dispatching a navy frigate to assist the humanitarian mission after several flotilla vessels were reportedly attacked by drones off the coast of Greece. 
The flotilla, composed of activists from over 45 countries, including notable figures such as Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg, is on a peaceful mission to break Israel’s illegal naval blockade of Gaza and deliver desperately needed humanitarian aid.
Late Tuesday, activists aboard the flotilla reported hearing more than a dozen explosions around their boats, caused by unidentified objects dropped onto the decks. The attacks severely damaged some vessels and disrupted their communications, endangering more than 500 unarmed civilians aboard.
Crosetto expressed “the strongest condemnation” of the attacks, calling for immediate action to protect the activists. He authorized the deployment of the Italian Navy’s multi-purpose frigate Fasan, which was already near Crete as part of Operation Safe Sea, to the area for possible rescue and assistance.
The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail earlier this month from Barcelona with the clear humanitarian goal of challenging the suffocating Israeli blockade on Gaza — a blockade condemned by international human rights organizations as a form of collective punishment against millions of Palestinians trapped in Gaza.
Israel has a long history of forcibly intercepting and preventing aid flotillas from reaching Gaza, including violent raids on ships in international waters. It claims that allowing any vessels to approach Gaza is dangerous due to ongoing hostilities, dismissing the pleas of activists who emphasize the urgent need to deliver

 food, medical supplies, and other humanitarian aid.
“The blockade is illegal and strangling an entire population,” said Stefano Bertoldi, an Italian activist aboard the flotilla representing the climate group Ultima Generazione (Last Generation). 
He described the explosions from the drone attacks as “dangerous acts that put all of us at grave risk,” adding that the drone detonations knocked off his boat’s jib and threatened the stability of the mast, prompting urgent mayday calls.
Despite Israel’s repeated justifications of its blockade and interceptions under the guise of security, the reality is a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding daily in Gaza. 
According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israeli military aggression has killed more than 65,400 Palestinians since the regime launched an onslaught on the territory nearly two years ago — mostly civilians, including women and children. These figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has urged Israel to ensure the safety of Italian citizens on board the flotilla and called on the Israeli regime to abide by international law and exercise “absolute caution” in its operations against civilian vessels.
The pro-Palestinian Global Sumud Flotilla remains an independent movement, unaligned with any government or political party. Its very name — “Sumud” — is an Arabic word meaning “resilience,” embodying the steadfastness of Palestinians in the face of decades of occupation and siege.
The flotilla currently numbers 51 vessels mostly anchored near the Greek island of Crete, awaiting safe passage. The activists’ peaceful mission faces continued aggression, including previous suspected drone attacks on flotilla vessels off Tunisia.
Calls from Italy’s Five Star Movement for the European Union to intervene with maritime escorts and protective measures underscore the urgency of safeguarding humanitarian aid efforts.