Italy has urged the Sumud Flotilla to stop its journey to Gaza. The Italian government has withdrawn its naval escort from the aid convoy, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warning the mission could disrupt fragile peace efforts.
The flotilla, a large convoy of civilian boats, is attempting to break Israel’s maritime blockade of the Palestinian territory. It has rejected Italy’s calls to turn back. The flotilla is now in a “critical zone” as it approaches Gaza.
The convoy consists of over 40 boats carrying more than 500 activists, including parliamentarians and Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. The Italian and Spanish navies had been escorting the boats. However, Italy’s defence ministry confirmed its frigate would stop its escort once the convoy was within 150 nautical miles of Gaza. Meloni said the mission could be a pretext to derail a new US peace proposal.
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A tense approach
Italian officials have urged the activists to accept a compromise. They suggested dropping the aid at a port in Cyprus. This would avoid a direct confrontation with Israeli forces. However, the flotilla organisers have refused, stating their mission to break the blockade would continue. An Italian spokeswoman for the convoy said activists were bracing for an Israeli interception. She noted increased drone activity over the boats.
The Israeli military is reportedly preparing to intercept the vessels and has warned the activists to deliver aid to an Israeli port instead. In the past, Israel has stopped similar missions in international waters. Organisers reported that an Israeli military vessel performed dangerous manoeuvres near their lead boats, which they claimed damaged communication systems. Despite this, they said the convoy was continuing its course.
Image: A boat, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla aiming to reach Gaza and break Israel’s naval blockade, sails off Koufonisi islet, Greece, September 26, 2025. REUTERS/Stefanos Rapanis
