Italy to send a second navy ship to escort Gaza aid flotilla, in wake of alleged drone attacks

Italy will send a second navy ship to escort the international flotilla trying to deliver symbolic aid to Gaza, the Italian defense minister says.

“We have sent one ship and another is on its way, ready for any eventuality,” Guido Crosetto tells the lower house of parliament.

He warns the activists against trying to break the Israeli blockade, and urges them to accept an Italian proposal to hand over their aid supplies and allow them to be distributed in Gaza by the local Catholic Church.

“We cannot guarantee the safety of our fellow citizens if they enter the territorial waters of other countries,” Crosetto says.

Italy and Spain both said yesterday they’d send naval ships to escort the flotilla, after organizers said several of their boats had been targeted by multiple drones off Greece.

Israel has not directly responded to the drone attack accusations, but has repeated its invitation for the flotilla to drop the aid at an Israeli port, to be sent to Gaza.

Yesterday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni clarified that the naval ship sent by Rome was not expected to use military force. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his country’s vessel was being deployed “to ensure that, if necessary, our citizens can be rescued and brought back.”

The flotilla said early on Thursday that its vessels were sailing at slow speed in Greek territorial waters, had been subjected to “moderate drone activity” during the night, and were heading toward international waters “later today.”