ROME, Sept 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto 
sent a navy frigate Wednesday to assist a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, after 
organisers said several of their boats had been targeted by drones off 
Greece.

The Global Sumud Flotilla said more than a dozen explosions were heard around 
the flotilla late Tuesday, with damage caused by "unidentified objects" 
dropped on deck.

Crosetto said he "authorised the immediate intervention of the Italian Navy's 
multi-purpose frigate Fasan, which was sailing north of Crete as part of 
Operation Safe Sea".

"The vessel is already en route to the area for possible rescue operations", 
he said in a statement posted on X.

The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) set sail from Barcelona this month with the 
aim of breaking the Israeli blockade of Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid.

Israel, which blocked two previous attempts by activists to reach Gaza by sea 
in June and July, has said it will not allow the flotilla to reach the 
embattled Palestinian territory.

"Israel will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone and will not 
allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade," foreign ministry spokesman 
Oren Marmorstein told AFP. 

"If their intentions are sincere, they should transfer any such aid to the 
nearby Ashkelon Marina so it can be forwarded promptly to the Gaza Strip in a 
non-violent manner," he said.

- 'Strongest condemnation' -

Several of the boats reported explosions Tuesday and unidentified objects 
being dropped on and near boats, causing damage and widespread obstruction in 
communications, GSF said.

It accused Israel of "endangering the 500+ unarmed civilians aboard the 
flotilla" that is carrying activists from 45 countries, including Swedish 
environmentalist Greta Thunberg.

"The drones that have been following us for days have detonated an explosive 
device, knocking off the boat's jib, and we're at risk of the mast falling," 
said Stefano Bertoldi, an Italian activist with the climate group "Ultima 
Generazione" (Last Generation) that is sailing in the flotilla.

Bertoldi issued several maydays as the explosions rang out, Last Generation 
said in a statement.

Crosetto expressed "the strongest condemnation" of the "attack" by "currently 
unidentified perpetrators".

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he had asked Israel to ensure 
the safety of "Italian citizens, along with members of parliament and MEPs".

He has already informed Israel that "any operation entrusted to Israeli 
forces must be conducted in compliance with international law and the 
principle of absolute caution," the ministry said in a statement.

Tajani has also asked the Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv to "reiterate its 
previous request to the Israeli government to guarantee the absolute 
protection of the personnel on board," it said.

The Global Sumud Flotilla currently numbers 51 vessels, most of which are off 
the Greek island of Crete.

Vessels waiting to join the flotilla had already been targeted in two 
suspected drone attacks in Tunisia.

- Maritime escort -

The Greek coastguard told AFP that a patrol boat from the EU borders agency 
Frontex had approached one vessel and saw no evidence of damage.

Contacted at its Warsaw headquarters, Frontex could not immediately confirm 
or deny the incident.

Italy's anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which has a senator on one of 
the boats, called on the EU "to intervene immediately to defend the vessels 
flying the flags of member states" by providing "protection and maritime 
escort through the deployment of Frontex vessels".

The pro-Palestinian Global Sumud Flotilla describes itself as an independent 
group not linked to any government or political party. 

Sumud is Arabic word for "resilience".

Israel has launched a major air and ground offensive on Gaza City in a bid to 
root out Hamas after nearly two years of war.

During that time, Israeli military operations have killed at least 65,419 
Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run 
Gaza, figures the UN considers reliable. 

Hamas's attack that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, 
mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.