The “Global Sumud Flotilla” (GSF) organizers stated on Thursday that the Israeli military intercepted their 14 ships sailing towards Gaza. According to the fleet tracking system, another 23 ships are still continuing towards the Palestinian enclave. Earlier, Italian Prime Minister Meloni urged the flotilla to cease operations, warning that it could escalate conflict instead of providing assistance.
The organizers of GSF expressed that their goal is to “break the illegal maritime blockade on Gaza, open a humanitarian corridor, and end the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.” Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that they will not allow any attempts to breach the naval blockade or allow ships into active combat zones.
Meloni wrote in a post on September 30, “The fact is simple: aid can be safely delivered through existing security channels. Insisting on breaking the maritime blockade, intentionally or not, means becoming a tool for those wanting to disrupt the ceasefire.”
A video released by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed the most prominent passenger on the fleet, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, sitting on the deck surrounded by Israeli soldiers, with one soldier handing her water and a jacket.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a post on social media platform X, “Multiple vessels of the Hamas-Sumud Flotilla have been safely intercepted, and passengers are being transferred to Israeli ports. Thunberg and her companions are unharmed.”
Israeli officials have repeatedly condemned the actions of the Sumud Flotilla as political propaganda stunts.
Israeli Ambassador to Italy Jonathan Peled wrote on platform X, “This systematic refusal (to hand over aid supplies) shows that the purpose is not humanitarian but rather provocation.”
The Sumud Flotilla released multiple videos on the Telegram social media platform, with personnel onboard holding passports claiming they were “kidnapped” and forcibly taken to Israel, stating their actions were part of a non-violent humanitarian mission.
Comprising around 40 civilian vessels carrying approximately 500 activists, the Sumud Flotilla set sail from Greece in September, claiming the mission was to deliver humanitarian supplies to the Gaza region.
Italian Prime Minister Meloni reiterated in Copenhagen, Denmark on Wednesday that the actions of the Sumud Flotilla could impact international efforts to promote peace in Gaza, questioning the true motives behind the operation.
Meloni said, “I believe we will discuss this matter here (the U.S.-brokered Gaza peace agreement), but the most important thing is the support of Europe for this peace proposal. The plan has received extensive support from Arab countries, European countries, and even India. We are awaiting a response from Hamas. Therefore, at this extremely sensitive moment, facing a historic opportunity, persisting with such a reckless and irresponsible action, I simply cannot understand.”
She added, “I believe the initiators of this action initially claimed it was for humanitarian purposes, only to later discover that its purpose was not humanitarian but to forcibly break the maritime blockade – a drastically different nature because for a humanitarian mission, they should have accepted the various secure delivery proposals from all parties.”
Meloni stated that the most effective way while Hamas negotiators review the 20-point Gaza peace plan proposed by U.S. President Trump is to act with restraint and responsibility to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, rather than engaging in an entirely different, unbelievable course of action.
Previously, Israel, Italy, Greece, and the bishops of Jerusalem have offered channels for peaceful delivery of aid supplies to the Sumud Flotilla, all of which have been declined, with Israel requesting a change in route.
Meloni previously stated in a declaration on Tuesday that the Italian government and the Italian Catholic Church proposed to transport the aid supplies of the Sumud Flotilla to Cyprus for subsequent distribution by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who visited Gaza.
Italy and Spain had previously dispatched navy vessels to escort the fleet during parts of its journey and urged activists to turn back to avoid conflict.