Italy Pulls Navy Escort from Gaza Aid Flotilla as Israeli Interception Looms

Italy's navy will cease escorting the Global Sumud Flotilla, a massive international convoy of over 40 civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid, parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, once it approaches within 150 nautical miles (278 km) of Gaza's shore. The Italian Defense Ministry announced the decision on September 30, 2025, citing the need to avoid a potential "diplomatic incident" with Israel. The flotilla, launched in late August from ports in Barcelona, Genoa, Tunis, and Catania, aims to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, delivering essential supplies like food, medical kits, and 45 tons of Italian cargo amid the ongoing war against Hamas. Organizers, including the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Global Movement to Gaza, describe it as the largest civilian maritime effort to date, uniting participants from 40 countries in a nonviolent push to open a humanitarian corridor and end what they call the "illegal siege."

The Italian frigate, deployed last week alongside Spanish and Turkish vessels after the flotilla endured drone attacks with stun grenades and irritants in international waters off Greece, will issue two warnings before withdrawing. The final alert is scheduled for around 00:00 GMT, when the convoy is expected to enter the high-risk zone. Flotilla spokeswoman Maria Elena Delia confirmed activists were briefed on the pullback but vowed defiance: "We have no intention of heeding Italy's warnings not to get closer to the shore." In an Instagram video, she added, "Israel will probably attack us tonight, because all the signals point to this happening," as the group braces for interception.

Israel, which has not commented on the alleged drone strikes but has pledged to use "any means" to halt the flotilla, views the blockade, imposed with Egypt since Hamas's 2007 takeover, as a legal measure to prevent weapons smuggling amid its war against the terror group. The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and abducted 251 hostages sparked the conflict, leading to Israel to launch a military operation and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto issued a "last appeal" for compromise, suggesting the flotilla drop aid in Cyprus for Roman Catholic Church distribution to Gaza. Organizers rejected it outright, insisting on direct delivery.

The flotilla's journey has been fraught: a "catastrophic engine failure" stranded the Family Boat off Crete on September 27, forcing 10 Italians to abandon ship under government pressure, though 50 others pressed on. Turkish drones from Corlu airbase have circled overhead for three days, per flight trackers, while EU border agency Frontex declined protection. Despite delays from Mediterranean storms and Israeli surveillance flights from Nevatim Airbase to Sicily, the mission, coordinated by grassroots groups like Sumud Nusantara, continues, with Malaysian vessels adding aid since August 23. Thunberg, who joined the steering committee, emphasized the siege's toll: "Boats of all sizes will set sail... to break the illegal siege on Gaza." As the convoy nears, tensions mount, with Israel warning of arrests at sea and activists decrying the blockade's role in Gaza's devastation.