30.09.2025 23:10
Italy has stepped back by sending a naval frigate near the Global Sumud Fleet heading towards Gaza. While Italy stated that they would withdraw the frigate if the navy did not stop, Prime Minister Meloni declared, "The Gaza aid fleet must stop now."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a statement regarding the Global Sumud Fleet carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza under Israeli blockade.
MELONI CALLS FOR "STOP" TO GLOBAL SUMUD FLEET Meloni stated, "The Gaza aid fleet must stop now. Otherwise, it risks being an obstacle to peace."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni In her written statement, referring to the 20-point peace plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday, Meloni said: "With the Middle East peace plan proposed by President Trump, hope has finally emerged for an agreement that will end the war and the suffering of Palestinian civilians and stabilize the region. This hope is based on a fragile balance that many would be pleased to disrupt. I fear that the fleet's attempt to breach the Israeli naval blockade could be used as an excuse for this. Therefore, I believe the fleet must stop now and accept one of the various proposals offered for safely delivering aid. Any other choice risks becoming an excuse to obstruct peace, fuel conflict, and thus harm the people of Gaza, who are essentially said to be in need of relief. Now is the time for seriousness and responsibility."
"WE MUST ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR SOLDIERS" Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also expressed his hope for common sense to prevail in developments regarding the fleet during a broadcast on LA7, stating, "I asked the Israeli Foreign Minister not to resort to violence. He said there would be no violence. It is clear that Israel will not allow the violation of the naval blockade. We warned the fleet not to attempt to break the blockade. We do not know what will happen."
Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani Tajani stated regarding how far the Italian navy ship would accompany the fleet, "Our navy will not be able to accompany the fleet in the event of a breach of the blockade, as there is no possibility of conflict. We must also ensure the safety of our sailors (soldiers)."
SUMUD FLEET: THIS IS COWARDICE WRAPPED IN DIPLOMACY A written statement from the Global Sumud Fleet indicated that the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had reported that "the naval frigate following the Global Sumud Fleet would soon make a radio call and offer participants the opportunity to leave the ship and return to land before reaching the critical area."
The statement emphasized, "Let us be clear, this is not protection. This is sabotage. This is an attempt to demoralize and disrupt a peaceful humanitarian mission that governments themselves cannot undertake, and their silence and complicity have led to this point. This is cowardice wrapped in diplomacy. If Italy truly wanted to protect lives, it would not act as Israel's assistant and would not pressure civilians to withdraw. It would use the naval fleet to ensure the safe passage of peaceful volunteers to Gaza, enforce international law, and deliver life-saving aid. Even signing this would be complicity."
"THE ITALIAN NAVY CANNOT BLOCK THIS MISSION" The statement noted that every participant on the ship was fully aware of the risks involved in this journey, stating, "We are not under a deceptive illusion. The reason we are here is that remaining silent in the face of genocide, hunger, and collective punishment is far more dangerous than the risks of sailing with a humanitarian aid ship."
The statement indicated that the Italian government was aware of this, stating, "However, the (Italian government) chooses to accompany us only to the danger point instead of breaking the illegal blockade and then turning us back to land (in an environment where Israel continues to massacre and starve the Palestinian people with complete impunity)."
The statement emphasized that the fleet would continue its course, stating, "The Italian navy cannot block this mission. The demand to break the blockade cannot be withdrawn, and our moral responsibility cannot be thrown into the sea. Every nautical mile we cover, every threat we face, highlights once again what governments cannot do and what ordinary citizens now have to do."
The statement stressed that Israel's blockade is illegal and constitutes a crime, stating, "The world's silence is intolerable. If the Italian government wants to be remembered for its courage, it must sail with us."
A FRIGATE WAS SENT FOR AID Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced last week that they had sent a frigate belonging to the navy to assist Italian citizens in the fleet.
Giorgia Meloni also stated in a statement on September 24 that the frigate sent to the region was not expected to use military force.
In a written statement made today by the Italian General Staff, it was noted that the Alpino frigate, which is accompanying the fleet, could take on board activists wishing to leave the boats of the Global Sumud Fleet approaching Gaza under Israeli blockade and would send a "final call" message to each boat for this purpose.
STATEMENT REGARDING THE CLAIM THAT "TURKISH DRONES ARE FLYING OVER THE SUMUD FLEET" On the other hand, the Reuters news agency claimed that Turkish drones were also flying over the Global Sumud Fleet, and the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) had also made a statement regarding this claim.
The official statement made on the Ministry's official website included the following expressions: "Turkey closely monitors the safe conduct of humanitarian aid activities carried out by civilian vessels currently navigating in the Eastern Mediterranean, within the framework of international law and humanitarian values. In this context, our ships, which continue their routine operations in various training and activities in the region, along with our search and rescue capabilities, will contribute to humanitarian aid missions in coordination with our relevant institutions and international parties, if needed. Turkey will continue to fulfill its responsibilities everywhere and under all circumstances to protect humanitarian values and the safety of innocent civilians, just as it has done so far."