Italian navy ship issues final call before leaving as flotilla says several of its boats were approached by unidentified vessels overnight.
Italy’s premier Giorgia Meloni has reiterated her government’s calls for a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza to stop as the boats entered a “high-risk” zone early on Wednesday.
The Italian navy ship Alpino, which had been accompanying the Global Sumud Flotilla after several drone attacks, issued its final invitation to activists to abandon the mission at around 02.00 on Wednesday as the flotilla reached the 150-mile limit of Gaza.
Carrying more than 500 activists from 44 countries, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, the flotilla is attempting to break the Israeli naval blockade and deliver aid to the Gaza Strip.
The flotilla said early on Wednesday that several of its boats were approached overnight by unidentified vessels, some navigating without lights, signalling that interception by Israeli authorities was potentially close.
“Sabotage”
Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto informed the flotilla on Tuesday that the navy ship was offering activists a final opportunity to leave their boats and return to Italy before reaching the so-called “critical zone.”
The offer was rejected by flotilla organisers who said it amounted to “sabotage”, stating: “It is an attempt to demoralise and divide a peaceful and humanitarian mission. This is cowardice disguised as diplomacy.”
Compromise
The Italian government has repeatedly urged the flotilla to unload its supplies in Cyprus where they would be transferred to Gaza by the Catholic Church’s Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The appeal was reinforced by Italy’s president Sergio Mattarella who implored the flotilla to accept the compromise solution and not to risk the safety of those aboard the mission.
The flotilla rejected the appeal, however around a dozen Italians made the decision last weekend to bail out.
Danger
Crosetto has warned that if the mission were to challenge an Israeli naval blockade “it would expose itself to extremely high and unmanageable dangers.”
Meloni, who last week accused the flotilla of being “dangerous and irresponsible”, on Tuesday claimed the mission could jeopardise the Middle East peace plan proposed by US president Donald Trump.
There are about 50 Italians aboard the flotilla, including four centre-left opposition parliamentarians, whom Meloni singled out for particular criticism.
Israel
Israeli television Kan and Channel 12 reports that Israel plans to intercept the flotilla vessels, ordering them to turn back and seizing them if they refuse.
Israeli authorities will also detain the flotilla activists, who will reportedly be transferred first to the port of Ashdod and then to Ketziot prison.
Those who agree to be expelled will be repatriated, according to Israeli news reports, while those who resist will be brought before “a special court inside the prison.”
Photo credit: Tricani Alessio / Shutterstock.com.
