ATHENS, Greece: Spain and Italy have announced they are sending naval ships to monitor a flotilla of boats carrying international activists to Gaza after the group reported being attacked by drones near Greece.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said on Friday it was pressing ahead with its final leg toward Gaza, despite coming under drone strikes and facing communications jamming. Activists reported a series of explosions in the vicinity of several boats, which left some vessels damaged but caused no injuries.
Organizers say the convoy consists of 52 mostly small vessels with activists from 46 countries on board. They are carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian supplies—mainly food and medicineintended for Palestinians in Gaza. The activists describe this as the largest attempt yet to challenge Israel’s 18-year maritime blockade of the territory, which continues amid the ongoing 23-month war.
While Israel defends the blockade as necessary to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons, critics argue it amounts to collective punishment and worsens Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with famine already declared in the enclave’s largest city.
The core boats departed Spain on September 1 and have been joined by others along their Mediterranean route. The flotilla includes support vessels carrying provisions, as well as prominent figures such as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, members of Italy’s parliament.
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