Italy and Spain deploy navy ships to assist Gaza aid flotilla

In separate decisions on Wednesday, Spain and Italy announced they would send a navy ship each to assist the aid flotilla to the famine-stricken Gaza, set to break Israel's longstanding blockade of the Strip and deliver crucial aid.

Rome and Madrid's decisions were in response to the latest attack late on Tuesday when activists reported "at least 13 explosions," while drones or aircraft dropped "unidentified objects" on at least 10 boats.

On Wednesday, Italy condemned the attack by "currently unidentified perpetrators" and deployed Fasan multi-purpose frigate for potential rescue operations to assist mainly Italian citizens participating in the flotilla, Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said. Italy informed Israel about the decision.

“In a democracy, demonstrations and forms of protest must also be protected when they are carried out in accordance with international law and without resorting to violence,” Crosetto said.

The country's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also condemned the overnight attack on the flotilla, but called the aid initiative "dangerous and irresponsible." Meloni proposed a plan to hand over the aid in Cyprus to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which would then be in charge of delivering the aid.

According to the Italian premier, the governments of Italy, Cyprus and Israel support the proposal and are awaiting response from the flotilla.

Addressing the Italian Chamber of Deputies on Thursday, Crosetto said another frigate, Alpino, will join the Fasan to further strengthen the Italian naval presence in the area.

"We will continue to do everything possible to avoid incidents, and I ask for your help in this, regardless of political differences. But I want to be very clear: outside of international waters, we are unable to guarantee the safety of the vessels," the Italian defence minister said in his briefing.

Crosetto pointed out that he recommended that the flotilla accept Italy's proposal to deliver the aid through the Church.

"Is it necessary to jeopardise the safety of Italian citizens to bring aid to Gaza? The government has supported the humanitarian effort, we are capable of delivering the aid the flotilla is bringing safely and in a few hours," he emphasised.

Shortly after Italy's announcement on Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain will also deploy a patrol vessel "with all necessary resources" to protect and assist the flotilla on its journey to Gaza.

“The Spanish government demands that international law be complied with and that the right of our citizens to navigate the Mediterranean safely be respected,” Sánchez said at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Israel not to 'allow vessels to enter an active combat zone'

Israel has repeatedly said it would not allow the flotilla to reach the Strip, claiming without providing evidence that the convoy is "organised by Hamas".

"If the flotilla participants’ genuine wish is to deliver humanitarian aid rather than serve Hamas, Israel calls on the vessels to dock at the Ashkelon Marina and unload the aid there, from where it will be transferred promptly in a coordinated manner to the Gaza Strip," Israel's Foreign Ministry wrote on X on Monday.

"Israel will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone and will not allow the breach of a lawful naval blockade," the ministry said. "Is this about aid or about provocation," it concluded.

Brazilian activist and one of the activists on the flotilla, Thiago Ávila, emphasised the group would not abandon its mission.

"The Global Sumud Flotilla is a peaceful, non-violent, humantarian mission, which is abiding by international law, wich says in the ICJ (International Court of Justice) provisional ruling that no country can hinder humanitarian aid trying to get to Gaza," Ávila said in a video statement on Instagram.

The flotilla is a civilian fleet of over 50 small vessels from 44 countries, aimed at breaking an 18-year-long Israeli blockade of the Strip, long predating Israel's current war in Gaza, which started in October 2023 following an attack by Hamas-led militants on southern Israel. Israel says the blockade is needed to keep Hamas from importing arms, while critics call it collective punishment.

Since the aid flotilla set sail from Spain at the start of September, activists have reported several attacks on the convoy, including on several boats in Greek waters on Tuesday, and on two leading ships in Tunisian waters earlier this month.

While there is no concrete evidence, activists have accused Israel of being behind the attacks.

In July, the unarmed Freedom flotilla was boarded by Israeli forces in international waters, while it was en route carrying supplies to the Strip.