Pro-Palestinian flotilla is ‘harassed by Israeli naval boats’

Report of ‘Intimidatory Operation’ emerges while Italy and Greece reiterate appeal for Israel to ensure the safety of the flotilha

A Pro-Palestinian flotilla to Gaza said it was approached and harassed by Israeli Navy boats that cut the communication systems of one of their leading vessels, while Italy and Greece reiterated the appeals for Israel to ensure people’s safety on board.

The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), carrying about 500 people, including climate activist Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, said he had a meeting with Israeli Navy vessels that circulated the fleet’s “leading boat” for about six minutes while remotely disabled their communication systems.

“In the early hours of this morning, the Israeli occupation forces launched an intimidating operation,” he said in a statement. On Wednesday morning, the flotilla was north of Egypt, about 220 km from Gaza, where previous attempts were intercepted.

One of the front boat crew, Turkish activist Metehan Sari told Anadolu news agency that Israeli Navy ships approached a distance of 5 to 10 meters. “This was one of the biggest acts of harassment we have faced so far. They tried to scare us, but we were not afraid,” he said.

In a joint statement of his foreign ministers on Wednesday, Italy and Greece appealed to Israel to “ensure the safety of participants and allow all consular protection measures.” The statement also reiterated the appeal for activists to deliver humanitarian aid on board to the Catholic Church for distribution, which the organizers rejected, claiming that their intention is to challenge the Israeli naval blockade to Gaza.

The naval block was imposed by Israel in 2009, an intensification of the Gaza blockade imposed in 2007, in response to the territory taking by Hamas. He was condemned on several occasions by the United Nations that they classified him as “a direct violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.”

The train is being escorted by a Spanish Navy ship, which offers coverage in case of drone attacks. Until Tuesday, it was also escorted by an Italian war ship that, according to the organizers, offered participants the opportunity to abandon their vessels.

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur for Palestine, criticized the Italian withdrawal. “While the flotilla is preparing to enter the waters of Gaza with its humanitarian mission, the Italian government is preparing to abandon it, leaving Israel free to commit new violations and continue with genocide without being disturbed,” she said in an X publication.

On Tuesday night, the Spanish government said it had contacted the flotilla and “urgently recommended” that it did not enter the exclusion zone declared by Israel for the safety of all involved. Government sources in Madrid said that although the mission of the flotilla was “commendable and legitimate”, the lives of all its members should be the priority.

They also said that the Spanish naval patrol boat Furor, highlighted to assist the flotilla, would not cross the exclusion zone declared by Israel, as this would put the vessel and its crew at risk. However, they said the boat would remain in an operational radius and be ready if a rescue were necessary.

In an interview with Spain on Wednesday morning, Spain’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Oscar López, said security must be preceded and defended the government’s decision.

“People need to remember that what these people are doing is bring food and medicine, and this is not the first time Israel blocks help to the Palestinian people,” he said.

“And this is a cause that could not be fairer and deserves all our empathy and understanding. But the government needs to make decisions, and what the government will not do is put a Spanish boat in these waters that were declared Israeli exclusion zone … We went to where we could and we are still there.”

In recent weeks, the Italian government has repeatedly asked the flotilla to avoid confrontation with Israel and deliver help through Israeli or cipriotic ports.

Activists, however, insist that their operation is not about help – that they describe as widely symbolic – but about breaking Israel’s “illegal siege” to the territory.

The deputy of the Italian Democratic Party Arturo Scotto, speaking to La Republica aboard one of the flotilla ships, recognized his fear as they approach Gaza, but insists that the mission will continue.

“Flotilla has certainly showed something to the world: the emperor is naked. Israel, a great military power, fears about 40 small boats? No, do you know that this mission has exposed its criminal and unworthy lies.”

The flotilla was attacked last week by drones that launched grenades of moral effect and tamarin powder, causing light damage, but without injured.

The Israeli Navy reported that she is preparing to take control of more than 50 vessels that are within her range of interception. The Elite Naval Command Unit Shayetet 13 is supposed to be promptly ready for the operation, which may involve ships to the Ashdod port or sinking of some at sea, according to Israeli public broadcaster Kan.

In an X publication, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said that the flotilla rejection of the Italian proposal to unload help in Cyprus proved that “its true purpose is the provocation and to serve Hamas.”

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, also asked the flotilla to interrupt her mission, warning that any attempt to break the block could compromise a recent US mediated initiative between Israel and Hamas.

Previous attempts of activists to break the naval block in Gaza, illegal according to international law, were forcibly prevented by the Israeli army.

In 2010, 10 Turkish activists were killed by Israeli commands that invaded the ship Mavi Marmara who led a humanitarian aid flotilla toward Gaza.

Originally published by The Guardian on 10/1/2025