{"id":44179,"date":"2025-09-25T13:46:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T20:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=44179"},"modified":"2025-09-25T13:46:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T20:46:03","slug":"italy-deploys-naval-ship-to-aid-sumud-flotilla-following-drone-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2025\/09\/25\/italy-deploys-naval-ship-to-aid-sumud-flotilla-following-drone-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Italy Deploys Naval Ship to Aid Sumud Flotilla Following Drone Attack"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Italy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Italian Naval frigate Virginio Fasan, which has been deployed to protect the Sumud Flotilla after it was attacked by drones en route to Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0(Photo from the Italian Navy)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStates have a responsibility to ensure the safe passage of the flotilla,\u201d said Amnesty International.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

STEPHEN PRAGER<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sep 24, 2025 (CommonDreams.org)<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Italian government says it has sent a naval ship to assist the Global Sumud Flotilla after it was attacked by several drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organizers of the flotilla said<\/a> that the boats, which are carrying humanitarian aid for the starving people of Gaza<\/a>, were attacked by a swarm of 15 drones early Wednesday morning, with the convoy in the Mediterranean Sea about 600 nautical miles from the enclave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RECOMMENDED…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Spanish<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Spain Joins Italy in Sending Ship to Protect Gaza-Bound Sumud Flotilla<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"TUNISIA-ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT-AID-FLOTILLA\"\/<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2018It\u2019s Terror\u2019: Global Sumud Flotilla Bound for Gaza Bombed<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Drop Site News<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>at least eight attacks and six explosions were reported as flash bang grenades hit at least six of the boats. One person has been injured, and two of the boats have been damaged. They also reported that an \u201cunidentified chemical device\u201d was dropped onto one of the boats before falling off into the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DO9k0ENCPh4\/embed\/captioned\/?cr=1&v=4&wp=538&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org&rp=%2Fnews%2Fitaly-ship-sumud-flotilla%3Futm_source%3DCommon%2BDreams%26utm_campaign%3D8fed72abfa-Top%2BNews%253A%2BWed.%2B9%252F24%252F25%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_term%3D0_-c56d0ea580-600273391#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A7050.699999809265%7D<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement issued Wednesday, Italy\u2019s defense minister Guido Crosetto said<\/a>: \u201cRegarding the attack suffered in recent hours by the Sumud Flotilla vessels, which also include Italian citizens, carried out using drones by currently unidentified perpetrators, we can only express the strongest condemnation. In a democracy, even demonstrations and protests must be protected when they are conducted in compliance with international law and without resorting to violence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo ensure assistance to the Italian citizens on the flotilla,\u201d Crosetto said that he had \u201cauthorized the immediate intervention of the Italian Navy\u2019s multi-purpose frigate Fasan<\/em>,\u201d which he said was \u201calready en route to the area for possible rescue operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deployment comes after labor unions in Italy led a nationwide strike<\/a> in solidarity with Gaza on Monday, with hundreds of thousands of people in 75 cities and towns rallying to support Palestinians as well as the Global Sumud Flotilla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hundreds of other elected representatives to the European Union also issued calls on Wednesday for their own governments to provide protection to the flotilla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/x.com\/ProgIntl\/status\/1970849438554845666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1970849438554845666%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fitaly-ship-sumud-flotilla<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the perpetrator of the attack is not yet known, the flotilla organizers have suggested<\/a> that \u201dIsrael<\/a> and its allies\u201d were responsible. Israel blocked<\/a> two other efforts by activists to reach Gaza earlier this summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flotilla\u2019s roughly 350 participants<\/a>\u2014which include humanitarians, doctors, journalists, lawyers, and other activists from at least 44 countries around the world\u2014have repeatedly insisted that they are unarmed<\/a> and that their goal is to peacefully protest Israel\u2019s siege of Gaza and deliver about 250 tons of food and medical aid to the people of Gaza, who are starving en masse<\/a> under a near-total blockade by Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, Israel\u2019s foreign ministry threatened<\/a> to take \u201cthe necessary measures\u201d to prevent what it described as the \u201cHamas flotilla\u201d from breaking what it called a \u201clawful\u201d blockade of Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement posted to Instagram<\/a>, the flotilla organizers said, \u201cWe welcome the recognition by Minister Crosetto of the democratic and non-violent nature of our mission, and his condemnation of the recent attacks on our vessels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group called on other UN member states, \u201cin particular those whose nationals are aboard our ships\u2014to ensure and facilitate effective protection, including maritime escorts, accredited diplomatic observers, and an overt protective state presence.\u201d The group emphasized that \u201csuch measures must remain protective and facilitative in nature, consistent with the principles of non-interference and the humanitarian purpose of our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel ordered the group to turn over its humanitarian aid to Israel for it to be distributed in the strip. Organizers have refused to do this, arguing that Israel\u2019s blockade of aid, which has allowed only\u00a0small amounts<\/a>\u00a0of aid into the strip, is illegal under international law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Update: There have been at least 9 attacks, and at least 6 explosions over the past hour and a half, organizers tell Drop Site.

Video report by Brazilian activist Thiago \u00c1vila pic.twitter.com\/LcdpX89X9v<\/a><\/p>— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) September 23, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>