ATHENS/ROME — An international aid flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza said on Wednesday it was attacked overnight by drones in international waters off Greece, prompting Italy to send a navy ship to come to its assistance. The Global Sumud Flotilla is using about 50 civilian boats to try and break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, with many lawyers and activists onboard, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
The vessels were attacked by 12 drones in international waters 30 nautical miles (56 km) off the Greek island of Gavdos, said Marikaiti Stasinou, a spokesperson for March to Gaza Greece, which is part of the flotilla.
All passengers are safe after drones exploded over the vessels, she told Reuters.
GSF said the attack affected 11 vessels and blamed Israel and its allies for “explosions, unidentified drones and communications jamming,” saying it would not be intimidated and would continue to sail.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said in a statement the sea convoy had been targeted by “currently unidentified perpetrators”. He expressed the “strongest condemnation” of the incident.
He ordered the Italian multi-purpose frigate Fasan, previously sailing north of Crete, to head towards the flotilla “for possible rescue operations”, focusing primarily on Italian citizens.
The GSF called on other nations to “ensure and facilitate effective protection, including (with) maritime escort, accredited diplomatic observers, and an overt protective State presence. Italy has now taken a first step in this direction.”
Israel has repeatedly criticised the flotilla, accusing its activists of complicity with the Hamas militant group.
On Wednesday, the foreign ministry repeated an invitation for the flotilla to drop humanitarian aid in an Israeli port, leaving it to Israeli authorities to take it to Gaza, or else face consequences.
“Israel will not allow vessels to enter an active combat zone and will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade,” a ministry statement said.
It made no comment on whether it was responsible for the drones.
Earlier this month, the flotilla blamed Israel for other drone strikes on its boats while they were moored in a Tunisian port. Israel did not respond to those accusations.