Italy Set to Dispatch Second Warship to Safeguard Gaza Aid Flotilla

(MENAFN) Italy will dispatch a second naval ship to safeguard the Global Sumud Flotilla as it attempts to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed Thursday, according to an Italian news agency.

Addressing lawmakers, Crosetto emphasized the government's intent to avert confrontations at sea, as the 50-ship flotilla seeks to bypass Israel’s blockade and deliver urgently needed medical supplies to Gaza, where 2.4 million Palestinians have lived under siege for 18 years.

“We will continue to work to ensure no incident occurs with the Flotilla, and I ask for your help in this regard, regardless of political opposition. The climate is worrying, and I say that we are unable to guarantee the safety of the vessels outside of international waters,” Crosetto told parliament, as quoted by the news agency.

He also denounced recent attacks on aid vessels, stating: “Attacks on civilian vessels in open water are totally unacceptable... Any demonstration, if it respects the law, must be protected and cannot be suppressed with violence.”

The flotilla's organizers said drones had launched multiple strikes in international waters, resulting in 12 explosions across nine of their ships. Responsibility for the attacks remains unconfirmed. Israel, which has vowed to prevent the mission from reaching Gaza, has not publicly responded.

Following the earlier deployment of the frigate Fasan, Crosetto revealed he has now “ordered the dispatch of another vessel, the Alpino, which has other capabilities should they ever be needed.”

In a show of broader European support, Spain also announced Wednesday that it will send a naval ship to assist the flotilla’s mission.

The increased military escort follows a damning report by UN investigators, who found Israel responsible for committing genocide in Gaza. According to the report, more than 65,400 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.

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