Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has told a flotilla sailing towards Gaza to stop, saying the latest attempt by activists to deliver aid risks derailing a US plan to end the war.
More than 40 boats sailing in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) have been accompanied by an Italian naval frigate, which Italian officials said would stop once the flotilla was 150 nautical miles (278km) from Gaza's shoreline.
Shortly after reaching that point on Wednesday, GSF said it was on 'high alert' and that drone activity was 'increasing' above the flotilla.
Meloni stated that the US proposal had sparked 'hope' of ending the Israel-Hamas war, emphasizing it was a 'fragile balance, which many would be happy to destroy'.
'I fear that the flotilla's attempt to break the Israeli naval blockade could serve as a pretext to do so,' she added.
In a series of posts on Telegram, GSF declared that it had entered a high-risk area and prepared for possible interception after unidentified vessels approached. Italian officials urged the flotilla to accept a compromise and drop the aid in Cyprus.
Meloni concluded her remarks by warning that any other choice risks becoming a pretext for preventing peace, further fueling conflict and affecting the people of Gaza.
Despite the warnings, the Global Sumud Flotilla asserted their commitment to continue sailing, maintaining that 'the Italian navy will not derail this mission. The humanitarian demand to break the blockade cannot be walked back to port.'
