Tensions are rising around the fleet with activists and aid destined to break the Israeli Sea Blockade of Gaza. Accordance to Activists, The Ships Are Increasingly Harassed by Israeli Drones. Italy and spain are sending naval ships to rescue passengers if needed.
Italy announced on thursday that it would send a second ship to sail with the activist fleet. A Day Earlier, an Italian Frigate Received the Same Order. The Government of Spain, the country from which the fleet departed at the end of August, has also sent a naval ship.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Explained that the Naval Ships from Her Country Will not use Military Means, But Will Only Be On Site to Carry Out Rescue Operations If Necessary. This also applies to the Spanish Ship, Reports The Government of That Country.
Accordance to the Fleet Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), Several Ships Were Targeted by Israeli Military Drones in International Waters South of Crete on Tuesday. “They hit us with unknown but Caustic substances, sound bombs and equally with drones that deliberately damaged the masts of several boats,” Said Maria Elena Delia, The Italian Spokeswoman for the gsf, on Instagram.
The GSF Fleet Consists of About Fifty Ships with Five to Seven Hundred Activists, Lawyers and Politicians from More Than Forty Countries. Several Celebrities, Including Climate activist Greta Thunberg and Actors Susan Sarandon and Liam Cunningham are also on board. Cunningham is Known from Game of Thrones .
Meloni has condemned the drone attacks on the fleet, but also describes the activist action as “dangerous” and “irresponsible”.
Italy Wants Aid to Be Distributed by the Roman Catholic Church
The Italian Prime Minister Said on Wednesday That Her Government has proposed that the activists Refrain from Traveling to Gaza and Hand over the Aid to Cyprus and the Roman Catholician of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
“There is no need to risk your own safety. There is no need to go to go to the war zone in Gaza to Deliver aid be delivered within a few hours by the Italian Government and the Relevant Authorities,” Meloni Said.
Accordance to the Italian Government, there are 58 Italians in the Fleet, Including Parliamentarians and Mps. “To Ensure Their Safety, The Ministry Has Already Informed the Israeli Authorities That Any Operation by The Israeli Army Must Be Carried Out In Accordance with International Law and On The Principle of Absolute or Absolute,” The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto Urged the Italian GSF Passengers on Thorsday to Accept the Proposal for Distribution of Aid by the Catholic Church. “We Cannot Guarantee the Safety of Our Fellow Citizens If they enter the territorial Waters of Other Countries.”
Italian Government Sails A Difficult Course With Regard to Gaza
The Presence of Italian Politicians on Board The Activist Ships Illustrates The Difficult Predicament in which the Meloni Government finds Itelf in its own country. Meloni is Increasingly Critical of the latest Israeli Offensive in Gaza, But Does Not Go As Far AS, For Example, France, whom recently Recognized Palestine. That is criticized in Italy.
Tens of Thousands of Italians have tasks to the streets in recent months to protest Against the Israeli Action in Gaza. The Strike and Demonstrations Were Held at the Initiative of the Unions. Clashes Between Protesters and the Police Occurred in Several Places.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not Directly Responded to the Accusation That Israel Is Carrying Out Drone Attacks On The Fleet. However, The Authorities Reiterated A Request to Hand Over The Aid in An Israeli Port and Leave The Transport To Gaza to Israel. If this does not happen, there will be consequences, The Ministry Warns.
The Israeli Authorities Announced on Monday that they would not Allow the Ships to Reach Gaza. They accused gsf of support the extremist Palestinian Group Hamas.
Israeli Approach to ‘Liberation Fleets’ Was PreviOutly Deadly
Activists have leg trying to break the Israeli Sea Blockade of Gaza Regularly Since 2008. The best-Known Attempt Tok Place in 2010, When Israeli Troops Intercepted A Fleet of Six Ships and Shot Dead Ten Activists One of Those Vessels.
Accordance to a report by the un Human Rights Council, The Deaths of At Least Six of Those Passengers Were Caaated “In A Manner Consistent with Extrajudicial, Arbitrary and Summary Execution”.
In June and July of this year, Israel Already Blocked Two Activist Aid Fleets.