The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) humanitarian convoy is trying to break the Israeli naval blockade to deliver aid to Gaza, and after a confrontation with an Israeli warship, it is continuing its efforts, writes the BBC.
The GSF reported that one of the flotilla’s leading ships encountered aggressive behavior from Israeli warships, and communication was lost for several minutes. The Israeli ship ordered the aid flotilla ship Alma to take evasive maneuvers. The Israelis then allegedly threatened another flotilla ship.
Israel has previously indicated that it will not allow the GSF to reach its destination, and it has already prevented activists from delivering aid to Gaza in June and July.
More than 40 ships are currently trying to enter Gaza, each carrying 500 activists, including Italian politicians. Activists have previously indicated that they are prepared to face resistance. Several unidentified ships, some without lights on, approached the flotilla in the area where previous aid flotillas have been attacked.
The GSF ships are being escorted by Italian navy ships, but Italian authorities have said they will not act as an escort
and will not go closer than 150 nautical miles (278 kilometers) to the Gaza coastline. Meanwhile, the GSF said it had crossed the 120 nautical mile mark.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called on the activists to stop, saying they could disrupt the US-drafted peace plan. Meloni said the US-drafted peace plan had raised hopes that the war between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group could end, adding that many would be happy to upset the very delicate balance. “I fear that the flotilla’s attempt to break the Israeli naval blockade could serve as a pretext to do so,” Meloni said.
Israel has advised the GSF to deliver the aid to an Israeli port, and Italian officials have also urged the GSF to compromise and, in order to avoid confrontation with Israel, deliver the cargo to Cyprus. Meloni said other options would threaten peace, intensify the conflict and thus affect all Gazans.
Meanwhile, the GSF has said it will continue its journey.
In late September, the Italian defense minister condemned the drone attack on the flotilla, and Italy and Spain sent warships to protect the activists. Israel has not commented on the incident, but has repeatedly indicated that the flotilla is a Hamas operation.
Pope Leo XIV has also expressed concerns about the flotilla’s safety.
The plan, approved by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for an immediate cessation of military operations, while Hamas must release 20 living Israeli hostages within 72 hours and return the remains of the remaining hostages.
Read also: Trump’s Gaza peace plan: what will it bring?