Italy and Spain have deployed naval assets to escort a Gaza-bound flotilla hauling international activists including Greta Thunberg, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which contains a few dozen boats with a few hundred total passengers, will now receive protection from both the Spanish Navy and Italian Navy while attempting to make their way to Gazan shores, according to the WSJ. The move comes after unidentified drones allegedly blew up near the boats on Wednesday, which reportedly damaged some of the fleet.
Israel has issued multiple warnings to the flotilla to turn back, but so far the group has not complied, the WSJ reported.
“We are sailing peacefully in international waters, we are not carrying weapons, we are carrying food, baby formula, medical supplies and water, and we are sailing to break Israel’s illegal and inhumane siege,” Thunberg said during a livestream aboard the flotilla.
Spain and Italy have both said they would dispatch rescue vessels should they be necessary, according to the WSJ. The ships are projected to reach Gaza next week, where they would likely face Israeli interdiction.
The fleet is aiming to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, but has so far been unsuccessful. Greta’s trip to the Gaza Strip in June resulted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) interdicting her boat and detaining her in Israel, and deporting her.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, the Italian Foreign Ministry and the Spanish External Affairs Ministry did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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